Fear
"I don’t know if you’ve ever woken up at 3.30 in the morning, or 4, and that’s the real evil hour where the blackest thoughts come and you’re thinking, how am I going to survive with her not being here. I mean I’m talking about them coldly, but they’re not cold, they’re chilling fears, that’s what they are.
Caring for someone with cancer can be frightening. Carers say they have felt afraid of:
- Being left alone with the person they are caring for
- Being responsible for giving medications
- Dealing with new people and situations
- Not knowing what to do
- Dealing with the failing health of the person they’re caring for
- Facing the possibility that the person they’re caring for could die
- Doing the wrong thing
- The uncertainty of what will happen next
Tips for managing fear
"How did I cope with fear? I talked about it. I found out as much information as I could about the cancer and about how to give medication and change dressings and all that. And then I wrote it all down so I wouldn’t forget, so I wouldn’t do something wrong."
Try to understand what it is you are afraid of. We fear the unknown most of all, so the more you can learn about what frightens you, the easier it will be to deal with your situation.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Knowing the facts will often help to alleviate fear.
