Caregiving can be very rewarding as it feels good to be able to care for a loved one. It often calls upon us to learn about love we didn’t know possible. Kindess in caring can transform someone’s dark moments with a blaze of light. It can make a huge difference in lives of others in need. For, one person caring about another represents life’s greatest value. The closest thing to being cared for is to care for someone else. Care is the state in which something matters, it is the source of human tenderness. Caring for others and leaving a positive impact, brings happiness.
But, as wonderful as it represents, caregiving can also be very challenging. When caring for someone with an illness, injury or disability, stress can be on overload. With it can come extreme exhaustion, mental and physical strain and have negative effects on our cognitive abilities and our personal health and well-being.
When it comes to life’s stressors, most people would put caregiving at the top of the list. It is very challenging mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually and often at times, financially. Caregiving is also difficult because you often see many changes in your loved ones. There is also alot of time challenges as you juggle your own life with the life of whom you are caring for. Most caregivers give 90% of their time to others, while leaving only 10% to themselves. There also comes the feeling of anger or frustration, or even feeling unappreciated. It is normal to have conflicted feelings, as caring for another can definitely alter your life.
When we care for others, we tend to forget about another very important person, Ourself! We forget about our own life in order to fulfil and manage the lives of others in need. Caregiver stress is due to the emotional and physical strain of providing help or are “on-call” almost everyday, sometimes all day. The caregiver is overwhelmed by the amount of care their sick or disabled family member needs.
Anyone can get caregiver stress and it can take on many forms. You might feel frustrated and angry one minute and then helpless the next. Some of the effects of caregiver stress are:
- feeling overwhelmed
- feeling alone and deserted by others
- sleeping too much or too little
- gaining or losing too much weight
- feeling exhausted most of the time
- losing interest in activities you once enjoyed
- having constant body aches
- suffering from constant sadness
- neglecting your own responsibilities
Long term stress of any kind, including caregiver stress, can lead to serious health problems. Depression and anxiety are the result of constantly giving of yourself, which also raises your risk for other health problems, such as heart disease and stroke. Research has also shown stressed caregivers may have weaker immune systems and have issues with weight gain which increases the risks of other health conditions. Short-term memory and focus can also be impacted.
Things we can do to manage our caregiving stress:
- avoid using alcohol or other substances
- eat a healthy, balanced diet
- exercise regularly
- get plenty of sleep
- see your doctor for preventative self-care
- stay organized and focus on “you” time too
As a caregiver, we need to take care of ourself to be able to care more effectively for our loved ones and to also prevent health problems. Here are a few tips to assist with caregiving in a healthy way:
- take time for yourself
- take care of your health
- take a leave from your job
- seek respite for your loved one
- seek further healthcare or a higher level of facility for your loved one
- seek community assistance through support groups
Tending to the care of others is a job that should not be done alone. It is a very important job to provide care to your loved ones but it is also important to not forget about “you” the caregiver in the process. Asking for help can be the most meaningful example of self-respect. Take the steps to take care of your own health as being a healthy caregiver is better than being an unhealthy one. To be a good caregiver we need to be at a positive level in our own wellness to make the best decisions for our loved ones. If feeling overwhelmed, reach out to others family members, healthcare providers, community support or respite workers to assist your loved one while taking time for yourself.
If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion towards yourself.
