At times of stress and uncertainty some people find it helpful to talk to someone outside their immediate circle of family and friends. Counsellors are trained to listen and help people to deal with difficult situations. They may be able to help you to find your own solutions to the problems you face. This can be very helpful, as cancer can affect many aspects of your life. Talking to someone who is supportive, and at the same time objective (not personally involved in your situation), can also help those close to you.

Your GP or hospital doctor may be able to refer you to a counsellor. Or you may prefer to go to someone independent, away from where you are known. Our cancer support service can give you details of how to find counsellors in your local area or see our list of counselling organisations. The Cancer Counselling Trust offers counselling to anyone affected by cancer.

However supportive your family and friends are, you may find it useful to spend some time with other people who are going through a similar experience to you.

There are many support groups for people with cancer and their relatives. Most have been started by someone who felt the need to meet other people in a similar situation. Others are attached to hospitals. Some hospital cancer units or hospices have day centres or drop-in facilities for people who are at home.

Groups offer support and friendship and it can be reassuring to talk over your worries with someone who has been in a similar situation. It can also help to meet people who have lived with their cancer for a long time and who enjoy life.

Search our database of organisations to find a support group in your area.

Not everyone feels comfortable in a group, and it is important that you take note of your own needs and preferences. You know yourself better than anyone else.

Complementary therapies

You may find meditation, visualisation, relaxation, aromatherapy or a combination of these techniques helpful. You can learn these from books or tapes, or there may be local classes. Your GP or practice nurse may know of these, or of someone who could teach you at home.

These are some of the techniques commonly used:

• Relaxation involves learning to become aware of particular groups of muscles in your body and how to relax them. You can also use thoughts of space, heaviness or warmth in those areas. Once you have learnt how to do this, you can start using relaxation to reduce stress and tension.

• Visualisation helps you to bring pleasant, relaxed pictures into your mind. Creating pictures and sounds in your mind that bring you pleasure can reduce stress and discomfort and allow you to feel calmer.

See our section on complementary therapies for more information and details of how to contact practitioners of these therapies.

Medicines

A lot of emotional distress can be reduced by the support of family, friends, self-help groups, counselling or some of the self-help techniques described above. However, sometimes feelings of anxiety and depression start to interfere with your ability to deal with everything that is happening to you. In this case, your GP or hospital specialist may be able to prescribe antidepressants, anxiety-reducing drugs or sleeping pills. These can help you to cope with your situation.

Our section on the emotional effects of cancer discusses the feelings and emotions you may be experiencing.