Morgan Odhiambo - 15 Jul 2024

Mental Health for Caregivers

Caregiver Stress

Caregiving is wholesomely rewarding, yet it can be burdensome too. Staying hydrated and managing stress are keys to maintaining a healthy lifestyle while caring for loved ones.

The Burden of Caregiving

It is the dream of every child to grow to a happy and healthy family. Caring for loved ones is a responsibility that most of us will have to face. While it is natural to take care of a sick family member, the demands of caregiving can become overwhelming. You may find yourself spending your last penny and sacrificing your free time to provide much-needed care. Before you realize it, you are drained both physically and emotionally, yet you are still finding it difficult to admit it or ask for help.

What makes a Caregiver Stressed?

Caregiving is like giving away energy continuously. The very thought that you have sick parents or children can drain you because you spend every little bit of energy in providing care. If you never stop and take care of yourself, you might be subtly digging your grave.

Here are the reasons why most caregivers become stressed:

1. Financial Strain: Health care can be quite exorbitant. As a caregiver, you might have to dig deep to find the last coin. As some say, "We are only one disease away from poverty."

2. Lack of Control: Chronic illnesses can be unpredictable, and caregivers can feel powerless when the disease progresses, leading to stress and anxiety.

3. Losing Contact with Friends: Caregivers often become socially isolated because their focus shifts entirely to their loved one's needs. They may miss out on social gatherings, road trips, hikes, and meetups with friends.

How do I know I am having Caregiver Stress?

Whatever can kill you can be prevented. Therefore, it's imperative to recognize these signs early in order to take the necessary steps to manage caregiver stress effectively. Here are signs that you might be experiencing caregiver stress:

Waking up stressed

Sleeping too little or too much

Constant fatigue

Racing mind

You have become overly irritable and angry

Losing pleasure in what you enjoyed doing

Always feeling sad and worried

Feeling isolated

Feeling like you are not doing enough

Recent alcohol and substance abuse

What should I do to manage Caregiver Stress?

Now that you're here, have you experienced any of the symptoms above? When you feel overwhelmed with caregiver stress, it's time you gained control.

1. Acknowledge that you are trying your best. Quite often, you may feel that you should have done better or that whatever happened is your fault. You should recognize this feeling and accept that you have done just enough.

2. Be happy! I wish I could emphasize this more. Overthinking may alter your perception of even mild circumstances. Your loved ones and patients don't want to see the caregiver sad; you are their source of hope. When you give patients something to smile about or to long for, their minds will be activated, their blood will flow better, and their system will be stimulated to heal faster.

3. Get enough sleep, hydrate, and eat well. If you get too little sleep, your body suffers exhaustion, and even depression in the long term. Drink a lot of water and eat a balanced diet.

4. Exercise: make time for routine exercise such as walking or jogging every morning or evening, biking, or swimming. These activities release endorphins and keep you from stress.

5. Meditation and mindfulness breathing exercises, mantras or yoga can help relax your body and calm your mind, as well as keep you in the present. Heallift.com offers great relaxation techniques to help overcome caregiver stress.

6. Be hopeful: hope radiates joy from the soul. All you need to do is perceive and believe firmly and it will be manifested.

7. Know when to ask for help: do you feel very overwhelmed by caregiver stress? Join support groups where people who have had similar experiences talk about coping mechanisms. You can also get advice from a doctor or therapist.

Conclusion

You can only take care of a loved one well when you are healthy and in a good mental state. Being positive and happy around your care recipients will renew energies that can provide healing.