12. What If I'm Dying?: The Intersection of Mental Health & Cancer
A Chat with Uma - Podcast készítő Uma R. Chatterjee, M.S., MHPS - Hétfők
On episode 12 of A Chat with Uma, inspired by my upcoming 4-year cancerversary and all that comes up this time of year - I share my full story + experience of my mental health struggles due to/influenced by my cancer. I discuss the research, conceptualization, and understanding of adverse mental health outcomes for patients with cancer & other life-threatening illnesses - particularly AYAs (adolescent + young adult patients, 15-39). I speak at length about my own experience living with cancer and mental health struggles, candidly sharing the concrete examples of how my OCD, anxiety, PTSD, depression, and more intersect with + are exacerbated by my cancer diagnosis. I dispel myths about "cancer victimhood," explaining the reality of cancer survivorship in tangible + accessible terms. I close with reflections about my cancer + mental health experience & my upcoming cancerversary, and provide a call to action + empowerment about sharing our true experiences in community with others - and allowing ourselves the chance to be truly seen + supported. Topics Covered + Timestamps: (00:00:00): Introduction to the episode, why I'm doing this episode, my upcoming 4-year cancerversary (00:06:09): Breaking Convention Presentation April 20-22 | University of Exeter Register to attend HERE (in person or virtual) (00:08:36): Digital CancerCon Presentation April 16-30, virtual platform Register HERE for free (00:09:59): The full reality of facing one's mortality & living with cancer Living with chronic illness vs. cancer/life-threatening illnesses The general timeline of processing a cancer diagnosis The lack of transition from fight/reactive mode to resting + processing The implications of chronic survival mode Significantly worsened mental health outcomes for cancer survivors (particularly AYAs) The realities of cancer survivorship & facing one's mortality The resulting isolation & misunderstanding of mental health + survivorship Invalidation of the mental health repercussions in survivorship SCANXIETY (00:28:55): My own mental health & cancer experience How my obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) latched onto cancer Health anxiety vs. health anxiety OCD, my experience of both Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) exacerbated by my cancer Depression exacerbated by my cancer The implications of my chronic/metastatic cancer on my mental health The truth of facing my mortality from cancer How scanxiety shows up for me (00:45:05): Mental illness/dysfunction is NOT a choice Growing around cancer versus trying to erase/deny cancer The misperception of mental health challenges during cancer survivorship How to support cancer survivors in their mental health The power of support and validation in survivorship How to shift from toxic positivity, toxic gratitude, and spiritual bypassing Dismantling misperceptions of "victimhood," empowerment to take up space (00:55:00): My own reflections, my cancerversary, the duality of life & death around my cancerversary, closing the episode Connect with me! My website: umarchatterjee.com Instagram: @UmaRChatterjee Twitter: @UmaRChatterjee TikTok: @UmaRChatterjee Email: [email protected]
