Managing Worry and Spiraling Thoughts About Mesothelioma
Health & Wellness
Written by Dana Nolan, MS, LMHC | Edited by Amy Edel
As a psychotherapist, I’ve worked with many people living with mesothelioma. Over the years, I’ve seen how often anxiety and worry take hold after diagnosis. My clients tell me their thoughts race, and their fears about the future grow louder with every scan, appointment and treatment.
When Worrying Is Common Among Mesothelioma Survivors
- Learning of their diagnosis
- Getting results of their scans and blood work
- Learning about their treatment options
- Having to switch treatment plans
Mesothelioma creates unique challenges. It’s rare, aggressive and difficult to treat. Many people feel overwhelmed when they first hear their mesothelioma diagnosis or research what lies ahead. Those facts often fuel catastrophic thinking, where the mind predicts only the worst outcomes and leaves no room for realistic hope.
Worry also affects the body. I’ve seen clients lose sleep, struggle with stomach upset or deal with headaches and high blood pressure. These physical symptoms can worsen side effects of mesothelioma treatment, creating a cycle that feeds anxiety even more.
Signs You May Be Worrying Too Much
A certain amount of worrying about mesothelioma is healthy. If we worry about our health and our treatment, then we’re more likely to take our diagnosis and treatment seriously.
Oncologists want their patients to monitor their mesothelioma symptoms, take medications as prescribed and notice changes in their health so they can report them to their healthcare team. But worry turns harmful when it overwhelms daily life.
Questions to Ask Yourself
- Do you focus almost entirely on the worst-case scenario of mesothelioma?
- Do racing thoughts keep you from falling asleep?
- Is it hard to imagine any outcome other than the most negative one?
- Do you struggle to enjoy activities even when you feel physically well?
If you answered yes to any of these, your worry may have reached a level that interferes with daily life. Recognizing this is the first step toward managing it.
How to Ease Constant Worry About Mesothelioma
When worry grows, it can feel impossible to stop. But there are ways to shift your focus and calm your mind, improving your mental health.
Top Tips for Managing Mesothelioma Worries
- Distract yourself: Worry thrives when your mind stays idle. Activities that keep your hands and thoughts busy. Reading, streaming a favorite show, doing puzzles, babysitting grandkids or spending time with loved ones can quiet anxious spirals.
- Challenge your worries: Ask yourself if your predictions usually come true. Was your last scan as bad as you feared? Was surgery as painful as you imagined? Looking back can help test whether current worries reflect reality.
- Refocus on what matters: Many people with mesothelioma tell me they want to spend the days they feel good enjoying life, not worrying about the next setback. Reminding yourself of this goal can help shift energy away from worry and toward quality of life.
Living with mesothelioma makes worry understandable, even expected. But when it becomes constant, it can overshadow the good days. With practice and support, you can manage worry, ease anxiety and reclaim time for the moments that matter most.
