Psychological and emotional wellbeing

Psychological and
emotional wellbeing

Cancer-related fatigue often takes a toll on a person's psychological and emotional wellbeing. Many people struggle with fatigue because it stops them from living the life they want to live.

Psychological & emotional wellbeing

Emotional regulation systems

Our emotions are regulated by three different systems. Click on the headings below to learn more about each of them.

Purpose = To detect threats and protect

Brain = Amygdala

Chemical = Adrenaline, cortisol

Feelings = Anxiety, anger, disgust

Purpose = To motivate towards resources

Brain = Nuclus accumbens

Chemical = Dopamine

Feelings = Wanting, pursuing, achieving, progressing, focused

Purpose = To manage distress and promote bonding

Brain = Prefrontal cortex

Chemical = Opiates, oxytocin

Feelings = Contented, safe, protected, cared-for, trust

It is very common for a cancer diagnosis to negatively impact all three emotional regulation systems.

Threat system

The threat system can be activated by external fears, such as feelings of shame or fear of rejection, and internal threats, such as self-blame, self-attacking and a threat to identity. People may feel that their body is not safe, while many face fears of recurrence. Distress can be common due to worry, frustration, overthinking and poor sleep.

Drive system

Cancer and its treatments limit a person’s ability to engage the drive system through rewarding activities. Many struggle to plan and lose motivation or confidence. Drive can stimulate “Boom & Bust”, where people do too much on good days without adjusting to their symptoms, often meaning that they ‘drop’ and their fatigue persists for longer.

Soothing system

For some, a cancer diagnosis makes it more difficult to benefit from the soothing system. People often withdraw from support or find it hard to offer care to self or others. Activate the soothing system with self-care and compassionate self-talk, letter writing and journalling. Cultivate a safe space and practise mindfulness to improve wellbeing.

Psychology & Fatigue

Watch our video on fatigue with Dr Jenny Johns, Clinical Lead for Psychology at Northern Cancer Alliance.

Fatigue with Dr Jenny Johns

Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)

ACT helps to improve psychological and emotional wellbeing by allowing people to sit with difficult thoughts and feelings, drop the struggle, and make meaning of their fatigue.

ACT doesn’t see thoughts, feelings, behaviours or actions as good or bad, wrong or right. The important thing is how they work for that person at that point in time.

It is not about resignation or liking what has happened, but instead, a willingness to accept things as they are in this moment.

Acceptance of what is out of your personal control and commitment to taking action that enriches your life.

Many people benefit from mindfulness as an effective way to handle unpleasant and unwanted thoughts and feelings. Mind-body interventions such as yoga and conscious breathing are shown to help reduce the effects of cancer-related fatigue.

Journaling

Many people benefit from journaling to make sense of their thoughts and emotions. Live Well with Healthy Habits is a wellness campaign that helps people create positive behaviour change.