Jazmine's Mental Health Through Mom's Cancer
- BET Album of the Year Award winner Jazmine Sullivan recently shared that she started seeing a therapist to help her cope with her mom’s breast cancer diagnosis.
- Sullivan's mom, Pam Sullivan, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019 and underwent chemotherapy.
- Taking care of your mental health as a cancer caregiver or when your loved one has cancer is important; support can be found in support groups and in therapy.
When it comes to her mental and physical health, Sullivan says, “I became a vegan two years ago with my mother; we decided as a family that we just wanted to take better care of ourselves overall. And so we cut out meat, making sure that I do some type of exercise… all of that has aided in just us feeling better as individuals and just connecting as a family.”
A healthy diet and exercise routine through cancer can have a positive impact as you move through treatment.
As for other methods of self-care, the singer tells Yahoo Life, “I will do a facial mask. Sometimes I love to light candles and just chill. My therapist has been helping me with really looking inward and taking a breath. A lot of times we just move so much that we don’t have a chance to kind of be still with our thoughts and really [think about] what it is that we’re actually feeling. So I’m starting to do that. Journaling. I write songs; I would say that’s always helped me.”
Pam Sullivan's Breast Cancer Battle
Jazmine's mother Pam was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2019, the singer shared on Instagram. Jazmine writes: "Late October 2019 our world was flipped upside down when U were diagnosed w IBC (inflammatory breast cancer). our days were no longer filled w convos of u telling me to hurry up and finish my project, but of chemo treatments and hospital visits…."
Pam Sullivan underwent chemotherapy to treat her breast cancer. And she shared some happy news in March 2020, saying, "I never expected to hear my doctor say 'you're done with chemo' today. I believed it would happen earlier than expected cause I asked God to do that for me, but after so much discouragement from my doctor, not this soon…
When Should I Get a Mammogram?
Seeking Support For Mental Health
Jazmine Sullivan is wise and brave for putting her mental health first in the wake of such life-changing news like a parent’s cancer diagnosis. Although it’s not easy sometimes to put yourself first, it’s imperative to do so, so that you can be the best, healthiest version of yourself for your loved one fighting cancer.
Related: "Therapy Saved My Life": After Losing A Loved One, Don't Be Afraid To Ask For Help
Dr. Marianna Strongin explains in her advice column for SurvivorNet, “Talking about difficult things does not cause more anxiety. It is NOT talking about the very thing that we are all afraid or worried about that causes our body to feel dysregulated and anxious.”
For people with sick parents, like Jazmine, Dr. Strongin says, “I encourage you to talk about your feelings with your immediate family as well as your parents.”
Dr. Marianna Strongin on Prioritizing Mental Health
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