anyone using counseling as a means of support?

kales

My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 when I was in high school and she's been through hell since. Relapsed after radiation after the doctors said that would take care of the cancer; went through chemotherapy; cancer spread to her brain and had brain surgery (surgery was a success thank god); had a heart attack this past summer because of medications; but currently she is doing relatively fine although she is taking a low dose of chemotherapy in order to stabilize teh cancer in her breast bone. Growing up, the household I lived in didn't encourage talking about our problems and revealing emotions, so I have a really hard time talking to my friends about what I am going through. It's really difficult for me, and although I want to discuss openly about how I feel, I just can't. This is my last year in college and I've been seeing a counselor and it has helped me tremendously and I've learned a lot about myself and about my relationship with my mom and family. I was wondering if anyone has also used counseling because they are in a similar situation as me? I find that counseling sort of has a stigma in society because seeing a counselor or psychologist means that there is a "problem" with you, but honestly I think it is one of the most rewarding things I have done for myself. And if anyone is interested in e-mailing me because they are going through a similar situation with a loved one, I'd be more than happy to learn about what others are going through and communicate/share our stories.

NatureGrrl

I'm not in a similar situation exactly, but I can relate to the "keep it to yourself" part.  However, I luckily discovered the huge benefits of counseling several years ago when I went through a difficult divorce.  Year later, when I was helping my mom with her ovarian cancer, I found out her oncologist's office had a counselor on staff, free, so I jumped on that, and she was a huge help... and then when I got my own BC I continued with my (my mom's) oncologist's counselor.  It made a world of difference.  I highly recommend it; it's great to share with friends and they give their own kind of support but therapists give a different and extremely important kind.  Plus, friends often can't relate to what you're going through. 

This site is also a good way to find yet another level of support. 

Good for you for doing this now instead of waiting until you're in your 40's, like I did.  My best and a warm hug to you and your mom.

kales

Thanks for your thoughts and comments. What a crazy and hectic thing for your mom and yourself to both go through cancer. I hope everything is relatively well for you and your family. It's true, counseling gives you a different type of feedback that friends and family do not give you (I would say the biggest difference is that they don't try to sugarcoat everything which is great for me because I don't like things to be sugarcoated). You mentioned that it is good that I am doing this now rather than in your 40s like you, but it's better late than never, right?

 Warm hugs to you and your family as well!