Top 5 strategies to reduce stress and anxiety
Anxiety and stress are extremely common and deeply impactful experiences for many individuals undergoing chemotherapy, often originating from the initial diagnosis itself, the potential side effects associated with treatment, and the pervasive uncertainty about what the future may hold. These feelings can become quite significant, affecting both emotional well-being and physical health.
You have more control over your well-being than you might realize. While it’s true that we can’t control every aspect of our lives, we do have the ability to manage important factors such as the food we eat, the quality of our sleep, the nature of our thoughts, our physical movement, and how we respond to stress. These intentional changes influence our biology in profound ways every single day. Below, you will find 5 effective strategies designed to help support mood stabilization during this particularly challenging time.
Optimize Nutrition
There is no drug for deficiency. You can’t medicate your way out of years of nutrient loss or poor dietary habits. What you eat is incredibly important for overall health and well-being.
No foods directly “kill cancer.” Some foods help your metabolism, while others don’t. A strong metabolism creates a body where cancer can’t thrive. Metabolism is all the chemical processes in your body that turn food, oxygen, and nutrients into energy. This energy fuels thinking, breathing, healing, detoxing, and hormone production.
Metabolism is controlled by the thyroid gland. A healthy metabolism (thyroid function) is essential for the proper function of every tissue in the body. It's so critical that low thyroid is a feature of nearly every chronic illness.
When thyroid function is low, cells can't produce energy efficiently, so their ability to repair themsevles, regulate inflammation, and resist disease begins to break down.
Pro-thyroid (pro-metabolism) foods:
Fruit: provide glucose, potassium, magnesium,
B vitamins, and other minerals
Dairy: provides calcium, potassium, carbohydrates, fats, and bioavailable protein
Red meat: rich in retinol, copper, B12, and zinc
Shellfish: high in zinc, selenium, and iodine
Eggs: contain choline, vitamin A, and selenium
Bone broth & gelatin: rich in glycine and proline, which lower inflammation and balance inflammatory amino acids like methionine
Coconut oil: antimicrobial & help to promote thyroid hormone conversion (T3 to T4)
Vegetables (potatoes, squash, etc.): carbs, potassium, and other minerals
Coffee: supports liver detox and boosts metabolism when tolerated
Carrots and mushrooms: reduce endotoxins, support liver function, help detox excess estrogen
Honey & maple syrup: easily digestible carbs, vitamins, and minerals
2. Balance your lifestyle
You cannot heal in the same environment that made you sick. This includes not only your diet but your relationships, your daily habits and your thoughts.
Incorporating regular physical activity, mindful breathing techniques, and mindfulness practices into your daily routines can significantly enhance your overall well-being and support better mental health. Consider trying relaxation methods such as yoga, meditation, deep breathing exercises, or gentle massage to help reduce stress and promote calmness. Make a conscious effort to focus on the present moment, becoming aware of your thoughts, and actively identify and challenge any negative or unhelpful thinking patterns. Building a strong social support network is equally important—engage in meaningful conversations with friends and family and nurture healthy, supportive relationships.
Additionally, set clear priorities in your life by deciding what is truly important and what can be postponed or set aside, helping you manage your time and energy more effectively.
3. Prioritize Sleep
Cancer patients suffer sleep disruption and insomnia due to post-surgical discomfort, anxiety and depression and physical pain. By relieving these symptoms the cancer patient is able to get the deep sleep and rest required for recovery and healing.
Even more important, make sure that you sleep during the night, aligning your rest with the natural rhythms of nature, and that you do so in a completely dark room to promote optimum natural melatonin secretion and the vital cell protection it provides. Additionally, it is essential to get ENOUGH sleep consistently. On average, a solid 7-9 hours each night is required to support robust immune function and maintain optimized melatonin levels. Establishing a calming bedtime routine is key to achieving this, along with incorporating regular practices such as mindfulness and meditation to help your mind and body relax and prepare for restorative sleep.
AcuKITS™ offers a gentle, safe, and effective way for patients to stimulate acupuncture points at home through the use of auriculotherapy and acupressure to help relieve insomnia and sleep issues.
4. Changing your mindset
Emotions have a profound impact on your biochemistry. They influence critical aspects such as immune function, hormone balance, and the body's ability to heal. One of the most vital elements for cancer prevention and for those undergoing treatment is achieving peace of mind. Healing is an active process—it is not passive. You cannot simply outsource your healing or adopt a “wait and see” approach. True recovery requires your full engagement—body, mind, and soul must all participate. It is important to understand that you don’t need to fear your body. It has not betrayed you; rather, it is responding as best it can under extreme conditions. The key question is not, “How do we fight it?” but instead, “What is the body adapting to?” Reflecting on how your mindset contributes to the disease process is essential. Establishing and nurturing a positive mindset plays a crucial role in supporting your healing journey.
AcuKITS™ offers a gentle, safe, and highly effective way for patients to stimulate acupuncture points conveniently at home through the combined use of auriculotherapy and acupressure. This approach supports the neurotransmitters in the brain, helping to alleviate symptoms of anxiety and stress in a non-invasive manner.
5. Using Traditional Chinese Medicine Methods
Research on the use of acupuncture in the cancer care setting is ongoing and continues to expand as more evidence supports its effectiveness. Acupuncture is commonly used to address a wide range of cancer-related symptoms, including loss of appetite, diarrhea, pain, fatigue, anxiety, and depression in cancer patients. Leading institutions such as the Mayo Clinic and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston recommend acupuncture as a complementary treatment for cancer patients. Nowadays, many oncologists routinely refer their patients for acupuncture to help manage both cancer symptoms and side effects caused by cancer treatments.
AcuKITS™ offers a gentle, safe, and effective way for patients to stimulate acupuncture points at home through the use of auriculotherapy and acupressure. This empowering approach enables patients and care providers to seamlessly continue supportive treatments outside of clinical settings, enhancing overall symptom management and quality of life.
AcuKITS™ - Natural relief from cancer therapy side effects, rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Cancer & Chronic Illness Support
Developed by a registered acupuncturist, AcuKITS™ empower patients to take charge of their health and support natural healing in the comfort of their homes.
Auriculotherapy and acupressure are Traditional Chinese Medicine approaches to healing the offer gentle, non -invasive techniques to target certain points on the ear and body to improve physical and emotional well-being.
AcuKITS™ helps friends and family members actively participate and play a meaningful role in supporting their loved ones' healing and overall well-being during cancer treatment.
“Your health is in your hands”
AcuKITS™ Support:
Cancer patients during treatment (chemotherapy and radiation)
Individuals with chronic illness
Symptoms Associated With:
Stress & Anxiety
Depression
Nausea & Vomiting
Loss of Appetite
Insomnia
Bladder/ Urinary issues
Cognitive Impairment
Immune Suppression
Fatigue
Taste Alterations
Diarrhea
Skin Conditions
Constipation
Dizziness & Vertigo
Bone & Joint Health
Liver Health
Headache & Migraine
Hot Flashes
Mouth Sores
Vision Issues
Neuropathy
Pain
Hair Loss