Receiving a diagnosis of hepatoblastoma for your child can be an overwhelming, scary event. Amidst the whirlwind of medical appointments, treatment decisions, and caregiving responsibilities, it’s easy for parents to overlook their own mental health needs. However, prioritizing your mental well-being is crucial for navigating this difficult path with resilience and strength.

Understanding Hepatoblastoma

Hepatoblastoma is a rare form of liver cancer that primarily affects young children. Its diagnosis often comes as a shock and can lead to feelings of fear, confusion, and overwhelm for parents. The treatment journey typically involves surgery, chemotherapy, and sometimes other interventions, adding layers of stress and uncertainty to family life.

The Mental Health Impact of a Hepatoblastoma Diagnosis on Parents

The emotional toll of a hepatoblastoma diagnosis on parents cannot be overstated. Anxiety, depression, guilt, and grief are common experiences as you grapple with the shock of the diagnosis, the challenges of treatment, and the uncertainty of the future. Moreover, the constant caregiving demands of your affected child and any other children at home can leave parents feeling physically and emotionally drained, leading to burnout and compassion fatigue.

The Importance of Mental Health Support for Parents

In order to show up as the best parent you can for your child, you’ll need to care for yourself too. Prioritizing mental health is not a luxury, but a necessity for getting through this season of life.

The benefits of mental health support for parents of children with hepatoblastoma include:

Increased emotional resilience – ability to manage emotions such as fear, grief, anxiety, and sadness is essential for parents to cope with the ongoing stressors of medical treatment and to provide effective support to their child

Development of coping strategies – you’ll need new or updated coping skills to navigate stress, uncertainty, and difficult emotions in a productive and healthy manner

Effective communication skills – in order for parents to be able to advocate effectively for their child, communicate with healthcare providers, and maintain healthy relationships with partners, other children, family members, and friends, communication skills are a necessity

Support for processing grief – mental health therapy provides the space for you to navigate feelings of grief and loss associated with your child’s illness

Creating a Mental Health Plan

Developing a personalized mental health plan can empower parents to prioritize their well-being. This can be done in collaboration with a qualified mental health professional.

Your plan may include things like:

• Consistent, ongoing therapy sessions to process emotions and develop coping strategies
• Participation in support groups or online communities for parents of children with hepatoblastoma
• Mindfulness and relaxation techniques to manage stress and promote emotional balance
• Setting realistic expectations and boundaries to prevent overwhelm and burnout
• Engaging in activities that bring joy and fulfillment, such as hobbies, exercise, or spending quality time with loved ones

Navigating the journey of hepatoblastoma as a parent is undeniably challenging and scary, and it’s essential to remember that you are worthy of care for yourself during this time. Seeking help is a courageous step towards well-being and therapy has several benefits that can support you during this time. By attending to your mental health, you can navigate this journey with strength, compassion, and hope.

Ana Velouise is the founder of Well Parent Therapy, a psychotherapy practice that offers online individual and couples therapy for parents across California. Her particular approach includes grief therapy and trauma processing with EMDR. At Well Parent Therapy, you’ll gain new coping skills and insights to support you wherever you are on the parenthood journey, with attunement to your particular strengths and innate wisdom.