The Programme is a six week self management programme which consists of 2.5 hours per session. The Programme was developed by Stanford University and will be facilitated in Purple House by one of our professional Counsellors and a volunteer who has personal experience of Cancer. займы онлайн на 30 дней
The topics on the course include:
- Techniques to deal with problems such as frustration, fatigue, pain & isolation & poor sleep
- Living with uncertainty
- Exercises for maintaining & improving strength, flexibility & endurance
- Making decisions about treatment and complimentary therapies.
- Communicating effectively with family, friends, & health professionals
- Nutrition & healthy eating
Thriving and Surviving:
September always brings a frisson of excitement in our house with the arrival of the Evening Classes brochure from the local college. Perusing the offerings, pen in hand to mark the most likely contenders to pass the winter months, the battle to whittle down the choices begins. Will it be ballroom dancing so I can cha cha cha my way through the next wedding reception and speak knowledgably throughout the coming episodes of Strictly Come Dancing? Will I finally get to grips with digital photography and prepare for a new career as a photo-journalist, portraitist or landscape artist? Maybe I’ll give Spanish a go so that I can comfortably chat with the locals on my next trip to the Costa del Sol or whenever I eventually get around to doing the Camino.
Whatever the choice I always throw myself in with enthusiasm initially but then the Irish winter gets a grip on my zest. The rain, the cold and the darkness all conspire to hold me back. Valiantly, I battle on to the end, my sense of duty overriding my discomfort and my longing to be tucked up in front of the telly with nothing more than a quiz show or a holiday programme to challenge me. By about the half-way mark in the course I usually end up asking myself: ‘Why did I sign of for this? What am I doing here?
This year it was different. The Evening Classes brochure lay unopened on the hall table, rejected in favour of the Thriving and Surviving programme at Purple House. Having read the blurb and having been encouraged by the Purple House staff to attend an introductory talk, I had somewhat reluctantly signed up and was committed to giving it a go despite my misgivings. Unlike the usual evening classes, which generate a certain pleasant excitement this course filled me with trepidation, with questions swirling around in my head every time I thought of it. What would the other participants be like? Would it be psychologically uncomfortable? Would it delve into personal issues? However, once we got the first somewhat traumatic introductions over with I realised there was nothing to fear. Our facilitators, Billy and Lisa, skilfully led each session following the carefully planned programme, the participants joined in the discussions and exercises with enthusiasm, making the whole experience a rewarding one for all concerned. By the end of the six weeks we had all gotten to know one another better, we had contact details for a number of our fellow participants (as we were encouraged to phone one another during the week) and we had learned the drill of making an action plan each week. The weekly action plan, which was declared to the group and reported on each week was one of the highlights of the course for me. Each week I came up with a new plan but also managed to continue with the activities from each previous week. In doing so I managed to develop a series of good habits that are helping me to improve my day to day life.
Another feature of the course was the handbook. We were directed to read certain sections of it in preparation for the weekly sessions but I often found myself delving deeper into the chapters that interested me. I realise that long after the course is over the handbook will remain a valuable resource for me with its breadth of material relating to all aspects of dealing with illness and living a full and fulfilling life.
Many of the evening courses I’ve attended in the past have been embarked upon with enthusiasm but the initial keenness has petered out for various reasons. Sometimes the classes have gone on too long, sometimes the group just don’t gel, sometimes the teacher is not up to scratch and sometimes it’s just those dark, cold winter evenings that put the kibosh on attendance. The fact that the Thriving and Surviving course was just six weeks in duration was a distinct advantage – it was long enough to be significant but not long enough to become tedious. Having joint presenters was a bonus too – it meant that there was a constant shift of focus so that the participants never got bored. For the presenters too this was probably a more workable option than having to shoulder responsibility for the whole evening.
So overall there were many advantages to participating in this course. We learned a lot about ourselves and about our shared experiences, we have the contacts and the resources to see ourselves through the coming challenges, to make decisions and to implement action plans. For anyone who is finished their treatment and facing into the ‘new normal’ of post-cancer life I would highly recommend participating in a Thriving and Surviving course. With an emphasis on self-management the course affords participants the opportunity to capitalise on all the resources that are available both personally and practically with the aim of achieving a better quality of life.
