If you’re feeling depressed or anxious, know that you are not alone. Many people feel the way you do, and there are a few different ways you can manage these feelings with the help of a professional or on your own.

Here are some tips:

• Review your medicines with your doctor
  
  • If a breast cancer medicine is causing you to feel depressed or anxious, your doctors may switch you to another medicine to help you feel better. Make sure they know all the medicines you’re taking, including those not for cancer and any vitamins and supplements. Some of these could also be the problem.
• Consider taking antidepressants or antianxiety medicines
  
  • Prescription medicines exist to help anyone feeling depressed or anxious feel more like themselves. Talk with your provider about which might help you. If you’re on tamoxifen, you may not be able to take certain ones, so be sure to ask which are safe to use.
  • Your providers might ask you to see a therapist or counselor before giving you an antidepressant or antianxiety medicine. These professionals can help you learn nonmedical skills to cope with depression and anxiety. Or, they might suggest you see a psychiatrist, a mental health provider who can prescribe a medicine for you.
  • Be sure to see a psychiatrist who has experience working with people with cancer.
• Try complementary therapies
  
  • Some mind-body practices can lower stress and anxiety. Yoga, guided imagery, meditation and deep breathing may help.
  • Exercise causes the brain to release chemicals that lift the mood. And, any activity, like walking, biking or gardening, may shift your thoughts away from cancer and give you the chance to be social.
  • Music, art and writing can help you creatively express your emotions.
• Work on your daily lifestyle
  
  • Getting more and better sleep makes almost anyone feel better. Set up a regular sleep schedule to be better rested.
  • Eat more vegetables, fruits, beans and whole grains to round out your nutrition.
  • Drink less caffeine, found in soda, coffee and tea, and take in less sugar and alcohol.
• See an oncology counselor
  
  • Counselors trained in cancer-related concerns can help you cope with the stresses you feel
  • They understand when sadness is due to the life change of metastatic breast cancer or when it is clinical depression
  • Oncology counselors work in cancer centers, hospitals and communities
    • Your doctor, oncology nurse or others on your healthcare team can help you find the support you deserve

Tell your healthcare team right away if you are feeling depressed or extremely anxious for more than a day or two. They can assess your condition and provide care, or refer you to a professional who can help.

Some people with metastatic disease delay asking for help. They think depression and anxiety come with the diagnosis and can’t be changed. Others feel like failures for needing help. Just because you have metastatic breast cancer does not mean you are expected to experience anxiety and depression. While you have many challenges ahead, it is still possible to feel good about the world around you. In fact, seeing a professional counselor or taking medicines prescribed to stabilize mood show you are strong and making choices to take control of your care and support your quality of life.