Mental Health

I've always been a huge advocate for treating your mental health with as much importance as you treat your physical health, so I thought I would talk about it! I had an appointment with the Tom Baker Physcyiatrist yesterday, and it put some of my worries to rest. I imagine those reading have similar worries to me, so sharing some of what we talked about seemed like a good idea.

One of the big things to deal with when it comes to a diagnosis like this is uncertainty. Everyone lives with a degree of uncertainty every day for example you might get struck by lightning or hit by a car, but for most these aren't things that are thought about every day and just become a part of life. However, with this diagnosis, there has been a major level of uncertainty as I don't know what grade of tumour it is and I have been told that if it comes back the prognosis will be really bad ( we're talking 1-5 years).

Yesterday the Physcyiatrist gave me some optimism to hold onto, he said he had been treating and talking to patients very similar to me for more than 20 years, and the treatment is usually very very effective. He said he'd rarely seen a case where the treatment didn't work. I also found out that if it doesn't come back within a couple of months to a couple of years, then I can be fairly confident that it will never come back in my entire life! So while there's still a degree of uncertainty, I'm feeling a lot more optimistic. It was nice to hear about the amazing track record of this kind of treatment, as I have been afraid to Google it due to how rare it is.

I also wanted to mention that I am very glad to have been in therapy for a few years before I started this treatment. If anyone is thinking about it, I would strongly recommend it. It gave me the tools I need to stay positive and fight a diagnosis like this, but it can also help you manage day-to-day stresses. I wanted to mention this because if anyone wants to talk about it or if you're struggling with your own mental health then I am here to talk about resources or just talk!

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, here are some resources:

Through Wellness Together Canada, individuals of all ages in Canada or Canadians abroad can access supports ranging from self-assessment and peer support, to free and confidential sessions with social workers, psychologists and other professionals.

Supports are provided online in both official languages as well as by phone and text for those without internet access. Phone-counselling sessions are available in 200 languages and dialects, through instantaneous interpretation.

Connect to Wellness Together Canada, by visiting Wellness Together Canada or text the word WELLNESS to the following numbers for immediate assistance:

• 686868 for youth

• 741741 for adults

• Front Line Workers, text the word FRONTLINE to 741741

Call 1-866-585-0445 (Adults) or 1-888-668-6810 (Youth)