Coping With Anxiety
- “Pretty Little Things” actor and ballet dancer Barton Cowperthwaite is in good spirits after a “successful” brain cancer surgery following his stage two cancerous glioma diagnosis.
- Cowperthwaite, who says he is feeling “lucky to be alive” following an “incredibly successful operation,” admits he’s not feeling like his usual self but he’s working to maintain communication with his fans and a positive outlook on his cancer journey.
- Dr. Marianna Strongin, a clinical psychologist and founder of Strong In Therapy, says that one of the main causes of anxiety is uncertainty about life, and a cancer battle can fuel anxiety for individuals because of the lack of uncertainty about the future.
- Anxiety symptoms include feelings of irritability, fatigue, and nervousness. People struggling with anxiety also have trouble sleeping, difficulty concentrating, and rapid heart rate which leads to hyperventilation.
- Therapy and medication are the two most recommended forms of treatment for individuals with anxiety, and treatments vary depending on the type of anxiety an individual has.
Cowperthwaite offered his fans a positive update this week on his social media, insisting he feels “lucky to be alive” following an “incredibly successful operation.”
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The ballet dancer underwent a craniotomy, a type of brain surgery described in the National Library of Medicine as “a surgical procedure in which a part of the skull is temporarily removed to expose the brain and perform an intracranial procedure.”
Despite undergoing the procedure, done to remove the tumor and also to better understand the severity and grade of the mass, Cowperthwaite seems to be in good spirits. However, he does admit to feeling a bit anxious during this new life experience.
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In a followup vlog entry on his Instagram, Cowperthwaite admitted that he’s “fascinatingly aware that he’s not operating at 100%.
“I feel like I’m standing in a little cave behind a waterfall. I’ve made many attempts to try and make this video to try and communicate feelings clearly and concisely, but I really do think it’s valuable to really try to continue to connect with you all openly and honestly during this process,” he explained.
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After showing off his “badass” scar in the video clip, Cowperthwaite said, “If we can all take away something from this, that bad news doesn’t always mean bad things. I got to spend Thanksgiving with my family and it was the best Thanksgiving I’ve ever had, by far.
“Life is god. Life is precious. I feel so lucky that I can feel my feelings. Doctors are saying I should be pretty much myself in four to six weeks and obviously I’m raring to go. I’ve been going on walks and absolutely crushing it. And I think it’s kind of amazing to see the progress I’ve been making so far.”
He continued, “In the hospital there were a bunch of relaxing videos on the TVs and one of them had quotes. One that stood with me was, ‘Serenity is not freedom from the storm but peace within it.’ And that really, really sticks with me right now.”
Understanding Cowperthwaite’s Cancerous Glioma
Barton Cowperthwaite first went public with his diagnosis earlier this month, through an informative and optimistic Instagram post.
He took to his social media page to reveal his cancer news, alongside a photo of himself wearing a hospital gown and holding up a peace sign, followed by his brain scan images.
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Cowperthwaite wrote, “So…. Yesterday I was diagnosed with at least a stage 2 Glioma. It is a fairly decent sized brain tumor. The tumor’s cells originate in the brain, so it’s not spread from a cancer anywhere else in the body.
“The only course of treatment for something like this is brain surgery. Docs so far have been confident that they’ll be able to remove most of the tumor, and that after a successful operation, and some rehab, I will be operating like my (amazing, talented, brilliant, hilarious) self. That being said it seems like scans and check ups will be apart of my life for its lengthy remainder.”
He also noted how he had taken some time to get second opinions with the support of his family and planned to undergo brain surgery.
In a followup video post, Cowperthwaite discussed the symptoms that led to his diagnosis, saying he experienced several seizures over the course of eight weeks.
Cowperthwaite said his most recent seizure led him to the emergency room where he underwent a CAT scan “which discovered an abnormality,” prompting him to be sent to another facility for more testing, and an MRI ultimately revealed the “lemon”-sized tumor in his brain.
Speaking of his stage 2 glioma on his GoFundMe page, Cowperthwaite also explained, “Doctors so far have said that it’s about the size of a lemon, and you know what they say, “when life gives you lemons… (have the tumor removed so we can) make lemonade!”
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He continued, “The only course of treatment is surgery. Removing as much of this sucker as possible is the best way to ensure I get to continuing living a full and happy life. It’s also the only way we will be able to understand the severity or grade of the tumor.
“I am currently interviewing with several different surgeons and facilities to decide what that best fit will be for treatment and recovery. It’s likely that I’ll need scans for the rest of my life, so I’m also looking for a place that gives off ‘good vibes’ for the long term.”
Johns Hopkins Medicine explains, “Glioma is a common type of tumor originating in the brain. About 33 percent of all brain tumors are gliomas, which originate in the glial cells that surround and support neurons in the brain, including astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and ependymal cells.
“Gliomas are called intra-axial brain tumors because they grow within the substance of the brain and often mix with normal brain tissue.”
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There are various types of gliomas, but the one Cowperthwaite is battling is “at least” a stage 2 glioma.
Symptoms that arise from gliomas come from the tumors pressing on the brain or spinal cord. Johns Hopkins lists the most common symptoms as:
- Headaches
- Seizures
- Personality changes
- Weakness in the arms, face or legs
- Numbness
- Problems with speech
Other symptoms may be:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Vision loss
- Dizziness
How To Manage Anxiety During High-Stress Times
Battling a mental health issue, cancer, or learning to move forward after treatment can be an extremely stressful time for so many people. How can you manage your anxiety while dealing with so many other things?
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Dr. Marianna Strongin, a clinical psychologist and founder of Strong In Therapy, has been helping the SurvivorNet community by sharing coping mechanisms and a structured way to think about handling these issues.
“The way that I define anxiety is that it’s an internal question that we simply can’t find the answers to,” Dr. Strongin previously toldSurvivorNet.
Dr. Strongin says that one of the main causes of anxiety is uncertainty about life, and a cancer battle can fuel anxiety for individuals because of the lack of uncertainty about the future.
Many people will turn to media platforms for answers, but Dr. Strongin says that individuals often end up with more questions as a result which leads to more anxiety.
The first step for coping during stressful circumstances is understanding one’s anxiety. To do this, Dr. Strongin suggests checking in with oneself everyday to see where the anxiety is manifesting and what questions are causing the anxiety. From there, it’s important to answer those questions and reassure oneself with positivity.
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“The answers are our coping skills,” Dr. Strongin says. “Some people are really good at always giving themselves answers…other people don’t have the coping skills to answer their anxiety and as a result the anxiety increases. … We are all facing the same questions.”
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She continues, “Some are facing them much more than others and some are better at answering those questions than others.
“What’s really important is to pay attention to is what those questions are, what the frequency of those questions are, and how you’re answering them.”
Anxiety In The United States
According to the Anxiety Depression Association of America (ADAA), anxiety disorders are the most common mental illnesses in the United States, affecting nearly 40 million adults 18 years and older. Anxiety can be developed through factors including genetics, personality, brain chemistry, and life circumstances. Despite being highly treatable, only 43.2% of people receive treatment for anxiety disorders.
Anxiety symptoms include feelings of irritability, fatigue, and nervousness. People struggling with anxiety also have trouble sleeping, difficulty concentrating, and rapid heart rate which leads to hyperventilation.
Therapy and medication are the two most recommended forms of treatment for individuals with anxiety, and treatments vary depending on the type of anxiety an individual has.
Mental Health: The Basics
The term mental health refers to both our emotional and psychological well-being. Our mental health can affect how we think, feel, and behave. Certain triggers like stress, traumatic events, or change in your physical health can affect mental health. It’s really important to keep tabs on your mental health and, if necessary, seek treatment. This doesn’t necessarily mean traditional therapy because while it may be really helpful (even life-changing) for some, that doesn’t mean it’s for everyone.
Problems with mood and overall mental well-being can be attributed to several factors. For some people it’s genetic, while others may be experiencing a response to some sort of stressor or past trauma.
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In order to keep your mental health in check, it’s important to be aware of signs which can be subtle that there is something affecting your mind. These signs include:
- A change in eating or sleeping habits
- Losing interest in people or usual activities
- Experiencing little or no energy
- Numb and/or hopeless feelings
- Turning to drinking or drugs more than usual
- Non-typical angry, upset, or on-edge feelings
- Yelling/fighting with loved ones
- Experiencing mood swings
- Intrusive thoughts
- Trouble getting through daily tasks
These symptoms can be wide-ranging and vary a great deal from person to person. Everyone experiences grief differently, for example.
However, if you are feeling unusually sad, on-edge, or like you’re no longer interested in activities you used to love, know that there are many treatment options available and many different healthy ways to help you cope.
Understanding Treatment Options
Treatment options for people struggling with mental health really run the gamut. While some people may benefit from seeking the help of a psychologist and getting on medication, others see great improvement by simply implementing some lifestyle changes, such as prioritizing exercise and cutting back on alcohol.
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Those struggling should know that they are not alone about one in five American adults has experienced some sort of mental health issue, according to mentalhealth.gov.
However, what worked to help someone else cope may not necessarily help you as treatment must be individualized.
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To maintain a positive mindset and address mental health struggles you may be having, treatment may include:
- Seeking professional help from a psychiatrist or therapist
- Learning healthy coping skills
- Medication such as antidepressants
- Adding more physical activity to your routine
- Adjusting your sleep schedule
- Connecting with others via support groups
- Mindfulness and meditation
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Questions to Ask Your Doctor
If you find yourself struggling with a mental health issue, or a diagnosis, or even helping a loved one cope with their emotions, consider asking your doctor the following questions:
- How can I go about improving my outlook/mental health?
- Are there any activities I can do to encourage positive feelings?
- When should I seek other interventions if I’m still struggling?
- What are the steps to finding a different therapist if the one I’m using is not working out?
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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