What does
depression feel like?
Everyone’s different, but you may experience these changes:
Feeling sad, hopeless or empty
You feel down or irritated most of the day, nearly every day.Loss of interest or apathy
You lose motivation to do things you used to enjoy, like going to movies, cooking and seeing friends or family.Feeling irritable or hostile
Your behaviour becomes emotionally charged or aggressive, and you don't always know why.
What else
might I notice?
Change in appetite or significant weight change
Your weight and appetite are a lot less or a lot more than usual.Sleep disturbances or fatigue
You are sleeping too little or too much, or feel low on energy which isn’t fixed by rest or sleep.Alcohol or drug abuse
You drink more alcohol than before or start using drugs.Risky or escapist behaviour
You engage in reckless driving, compulsive gambling or spending a lot of time at work or on sports.
Crisis Services Canada
Call toll-free on 1-833-456-4566 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) or text on 45645 (4 pm to 12 am ET)
Emergency
Call 911 or go directly to your nearest hospital emergency department.
How to
take action
If you’re feeling overwhelmed about life, take action because things can get better. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Talk to someone you trust, especially when things are tough.
Get moving - exercise does great things to your body and mind.
Take a break – you don’t need to solve every challenge today, so give yourself some downtime.
All good things take time, start with small habits which help build momentum and more change.
Break ‘rules’ you might impose on yourself – for example, run the dishwasher again if you haven’t had the energy to unstack it straight away.
Get out and do something you enjoy with a friend.
If you’ve tried some of the things above and still feel bad, talk to a professional for advice and support.
Who can help?
Your doctor or care team
Talk to your nurse, doctor or someone else in your care team. They can help you understand your prostate cancer diagnosis, treatment and side effects, listen to your concerns, and put you in touch with other people who can help.
You can also contact the Canadian Cancer Society and Wellspring, which both offer information and resources to help with the mental and emotional changes that may come after a cancer diagnosis.
Trained counsellors
Counsellors are trained to listen and can help you to find your own ways to deal with things. Many hospitals have counsellors or psychologists who specialise in helping people with cancer - ask your doctor or care team at the hospital if this is available. Your doctor may also be able to refer you to a counsellor, or you can seek out a private counsellor yourself.
To find out more information and locate a therapist or counsellor near you visit Psychology Today or Good Therapy.
