By Lisa Simms Booth and Thelma D. Jones
In this fast-paced world that we live in today, stress can be overwhelming, and if you are dealing with cancer or other chronic illnesses, it is even worse. Are you interested in exploring ways to cope with stress and creating your own mental health wellness plan? If so, join the Thelma D. Jones Breast Cancer Fund (TDJBCF) for the sixth consecutive year as they host An Evening with Smith Center for Healing and the Arts on Wednesday, July 17, at 6:30 p.m. You can join via Zoom or the TDJBCF Facebook page.
Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, a nonprofit health, education, and arts organization located in the heart of U Street NW, focuses on whole person care and is a leader in the nationwide movement to promote the use of the arts in healing. Smith Center’s mission is to develop and promote healing practices that explore physical, emotional, and mental wellness and lead to life-affirming changes.
Back by popular demand, the support group meeting will be emceed by Lisa Simms Booth, Executive Director of the Smith Center. During the meeting, Booth will lead a robust conversation with colleague Erin Price, the Smith Center’s Young Adult & Psychosocial Support Program Director. You’ll hear about the stress that comes with a cancer diagnosis and survivorship and better understand that there is no one right way to cope with cancer, as well as the role of our nervous system in helping to respond to the stressors.
The evening will focus on providing hands-on information about four key areas that are unique to each person: potential stressors, warning signs, self-care practices that work, and coping strategies. By focusing on these areas, you will come away with the start of a personalized Coping Plan.
So mark your calendar and join us to learn more about cancer programs, coping with stress and focusing on wellness and healing — something we can all benefit from as we continue to emerge from the pandemic