Caregiving is rewarding but stressful
The demands of caregiving, especially when you have multiple responsibilities in addition to, can cause physical and emotional stress. If you are feeling burned out, depressed, angry, tired or lonely – please know these are all very common emotions for caregivers.
There are situations for caregivers are seem impossible to tackle. Some factors that increase stress for caregivers include:
- Due to a busy schedule, you are isolated from your peers and friendships, creating a sense of loneliness.
- Caring for someone who is high-maintenance and has constant demands.
- Being pulled in different directions – your job, needs of your children, your spouse, your parents and the management of a household (cleaning, laundry, groceries, etc.).
- Not clear enough information or guidance from health care professionals.
- When caring for a relative – not having help from other family members.
- Feeling the need to give care at all times – you constantly want to make people happy.
- Financial issues.
When is enough, enough?
When do you know, as a caregiver, that you need to take a step back and assess your own health? Too much stress over time can cause harm to your health and increase your risk for heart disease, diabetes and other health conditions related to improper diet and an unhealthy lifestyle due to stress. Some signs of caregiver stress include:
- Lack of sleep. You caffeinate all day to keep moving – leading to difficulties in falling and staying asleep OR you stay up at night worried about the next day or if you forgot to do something.
- Gaining or losing weight. You eat comfort food for “temporary” happiness, or you don’t eat as much because you are on the go all the time.
- When people ask you, “How are you?” Your response is always, “I’m so tired.”
- Not taking care of yourself.
- Feeling sad and isolated.
- Misuse of alcohol, drugs or medicines.
- Increase in feeling anxious and nervous.
- Frequent headaches and body pains.
Tips for Managing Stress
It is said that it takes twenty-one days to make or break a habit. Give yourself patience and time to adapt to a new lifestyle that help you deal with stress. A huge factor to successfully managing stress is taking care of yourself! If you don’t, you won’t be able to care for your loved ones. Where to start? Take baby steps. Perhaps it’s snacking on healthy foods instead of junk food or going for a daily walk. Perhaps you stop drinking that “one alcoholic beverage” at night or stop hitting the snooze button on the morning alarm. Whatever you decide to do, just start doing it. After you make or break a few habits, add a few more and keep trying!
Other ways to manage caregiver stress include:
- Remember You! Take care of your health. Schedule your annual health physical appointment.
- Stop procrastination. Make a realistic daily list and check things off as you go along.
- Seek support on social media – keep connected with your peers.
- Join a support group.
- Ask for help. Make a list of who you know could help – like with cleaning, cooking, laundry, etc. Have the helpers choose the task they wish to perform. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. Not only do you need to ask for help – you need to accept the help when offered.
Remember You!
Take care of yourself so you can be there for others. Remember to see your health care professional for regular health screenings and vaccinations. Keep engaged with your friends – they might be doing through the same thing. Encourage other family members to help. Take a time-out for yourself – perhaps a weekly yoga session, massage or even a visit to the library. Remember your health so you have the physical and mental energy to care for your parents, your children, our spouse and everyone else you needs you. Remember You!
