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Read MoreBy Peg Shepherd, licensed mental health practitioner
It’s tough enough to deal with your own emotions when you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, but what about your children? Expect a variety of reactions from them: from silence, denial, regression and acting out to anxiety or depression.
You know your child better than anyone else. Trust your instincts when deciding how to talk with them about your cancer. What they need most right now is honesty. Honesty promotes closeness. If you’re not honest, kids will imagine all kinds of scenarios—and what they imagine can be far worse than the truth.
Start the conversation by considering: your own readiness and level of openness, your style of communicating with your child, his or her age and stage of development, your unique family situation, your spiritual and cultural beliefs and the seriousness of your illness.
Prepare yourself by waiting for test results so you can share the results in a clear and informed manner. Decide who you want present. Information should be consistent. Choose time and place to talk that’s good for all of you.
Then provide information your child can understand. Be clear and use correct words. Share a little bit at a time to avoid information overload. If they want more information, they will ask for more. They need to be able to absorb what’s happening at their own pace.
Don’t forget to offer your children time away from the rest of the family. Encourage them to take time for themselves and let them know it’s okay to act like a child.
For more information, contact Peg Shepherd at (402) 572-2285.
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