S6 Ep14: Helen on dealing with grief

Helen Skelton is a psychotherapist and campaigner who lives with secondary breast cancer. In this episode, Helen talks in depth with Laura about grief. How grief isn’t just about losing someone, but about the loss of anything; your hair, your body image, your friendships, the life you hoped you’d have.Drawing on her own experience, Helen shares the grief she’s experienced as part of her breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, and how that grief extends to losing friends in the breast cancer community she’s a part of. She also promotes acceptance of grief and anger as emotions that should be recognised and lived with, and shares some outlooks that may help others see their grief in a new light.You can find Helen on Instagram @secondary.psychYou can read Helen's writing on SubstackIf you'd like to find out more about Breast Cancer Now's support services, visit the Breast Cancer Now website or phone our free helpline on 0808 800 6000 (UK only).You can subscribe to this podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Every episode is available to watch or listen to on the Breast Cancer Now website. You can also watch it on YouTube.Key Topics:2:08 Helen is diagnosed with breast cancer in 20205:51 Dealing with a cancer diagnosis during COVID8:22 Living with secondary breast cancer10:39 Getting a primary and secondary breast cancer diagnosis at the same time16:35 There's more to grief than just the dictionary definition23:19 Grief as a result of a cancer diagnosis25:49 Processing the grief from losing someone to the same disease you have29:17 Helen attends a grief retreat33:09 What is grief tending?34:05 Discussing rage and anger, and how to come to terms with them37:29 Why it's important to talk about emotions and feelings41:27 Helen shares tips and techniques for coping with grief46:14 Emotional triggers can cause you to reevaluate and make different decisions53:38 What it means to Helen to "live well"