A Cancer Patient's Guide to Overcoming Depression and Anxiety

Book excerpt: Modern medicine has developed solutions that allow cancer patients to live longer lives, but depression and anxiety often make these years painful and difficult. This book develops the techniques of behavior activation therapy into practical activities people recovering from cancer can use to recognize and overcome problems with depression and anxiety. Relieved from these two sources of emotional pain and limitation, readers of this book will be able to live life fully and apply their energy to the task of getting better. Successes build on one another, creating a model for ever more positive feelings in the future. The key to success, though, is to keep focusing on engaging in enjoyable behaviors without getting bogged down by pain, frustration, and worry. Keeping on track is easy with the step-by-step approach offered in the book.