What sort of social support might you like during treatment?
Deciding who you might want on your team can depend on what type of support you need. You might prefer a different person or group for different types of support or situations, or it may be that a single person is able to be there for you in all of these different ways.
Select the types of social support you might find useful. You can use our suggestions or add your own.
Tangible Support
Tangible support means help with the practical things that need to be done during your treatment. This might mean having someone who could take you to clinic appointments or help you with daily tasks. It might also come from your employer offering flexibility in your work commitments.
Positive social interactions
Positive social interactions during your treatment don’t need to be focused on your treatment. Sometimes just having someone to spend time with to relax can give you a break from the stresses of treatment.
Informational support
It’s common to have questions during treatment which is why informational support is essential. Informational support doesn’t necessarily need to come from someone you know personally. Clinic staff will be able to help you in lots of cases and online groups can be a great way to talk to people who are further along in their journey than you.
Emotional support
Often, emotional support isn’t about solving your problems or having someone make you feel better; it’s about recognising your feelings as valid. People often get emotional support from family and friends, but also from peers going through similar experiences. Clinics have counsellors available for you to discuss how you feel.