Practicing Thankfulness Benefits Mesothelioma Patients

Thanksgiving can be a challenging time for people with mesothelioma and their loved ones. The season encourages us to take some time and give thanks for our blessings, our freedoms and our health. 

It’s healthy to feel and express all the emotions that go along with the mesothelioma journey. This can also include the uncomfortable ones like sadness, fear, anger and even grief. 

I’ve been a psychotherapist working with cancer patients for 25 years. I commonly hear people with mesothelioma grieve the loss of their energy, life without pain and the ability to do the things that they used to be able to do. 

Feeling gratitude when you’re living with mesothelioma may not come easily on Thanksgiving or on any day of the year. However, recent research suggests there are mental health benefits of practicing gratitude for mesothelioma patients.

Research Finds Benefits in Practicing Gratitude 

In recent decades, health and psychology researchers have focused on the benefits of practicing gratitude. This is the act of appreciating someone who has helped us, cared about us or consciously reflecting on the things that are going well in our life. 

Research indicates practicing gratitude promotes emotional wellbeing in general populations. Randomized controlled studies with cancer patients engaging in gratitude practices reported less anxiety, depression and better-quality sleep. 

How Can We Practice Gratitude Regularly?

The process of practicing gratitude may seem daunting. There are small steps you can take to introduce mindfulness in your daily routine. 

• Reflect daily: Take time at the end of your day to reflect on specific positive moments. These moments can be as simple as scoring the closest parking spot at the grocery store when it’s raining. 
• Buy a gratitude journal: Browsing through your bookstore’s self-help section will lead you to many options. Most have specific prompts to help refocus your thinking and attention toward positive things in life. 
• Make a list: Think about the people in your life who you’re thankful for and send them a text or a card. You can also drop by for a visit or make a quick phone call to say hi.
• Use an app: There’s an App for that! Of course, there are several apps you can download that will prompt you to answer questions about your day with a focus on gratitude. 

These simple habits can help form a healthier emotional mindset. This can be especially helpful during the holiday season. 

Balancing Gratitude With Our Other Emotions 

Practicing gratitude regularly doesn’t mean we don’t ever get to feel or express the other emotions that accompany living with mesothelioma. Emotions aren’t mutually exclusive. We can be grateful for many things in life, but still be fearful of the unknown, of our future or even be angry at our mesothelioma diagnosis. 

When feeling overwhelmed with sadness or fear, try to focus on the positive things you’re still able to experience while you have mesothelioma. This is an effective way to take a little bit of the sting out of those unpleasant feelings.