Dear Dish-it,
My aunt has brain cancer. I need help dealing with all the stress - how do I stay calm and not think negatively? I just can't help stressing ... I cry myself to sleep almost every night! What do I do?
Sadness
Dear Sadness,
Sometimes when we hear bad news, our first instinct is to curl up in a ball, hide and hope it all goes away. Hiding from your problems causes a lot of fear and anxiety - otherwise known as stress. That's normal when we receive horrible and unexpected news, like a family member being diagnosed with cancer. But now, it seems like you need to reach out, be comforted by the adults in your life, get real information regarding your aunt's illness and be able to spend time with your friends. You are dealing with overwhelming events and feelings, and it's VERY important that you don't deal with this alone. Talk with your mom, another family member, a school social worker or counsellor or spiritual adviser about your thoughts and feelings.
There are tons resources on the Internet and in the library. You can check with your local library, or in your school. However, I would suggest that you check with the adults in your life first...before you reach out to resources on the Internet.
