Ways to Cope When the Caregiving Burden Becomes Too Heavy
August 27th, 2005 by RespiteMatch.com Unload a little—even if it’s on someone else’s shoulders.
Do that one thing you love, even if it’s not timely.
Remind yourself it’s okay to cry—crying releases more than tears.
Stop everything you’re doing—go find a quiet spot and begin writing down all those things that make you happy.
Turn things over to someone else. Get free, even if only for an hour.
Make sure you get enough rest, even if it means having someone stay to take care of the one you care for.
Take things as they come—don’t think too far ahead on things.
Let things go if you’re too weary to do them. Dishes can stay in a sink for days, if necessary.
Breathe! Take long, slow, deep breaths. It’s amazing how often caregivers hold their breath without knowing it. Breathing deeply releases stress.
Keep things in perspective: - Know you cannot make life perfect for the one you care for—life is not perfect. - Realize that things will not always work out the way you’d like them to. - Recognize you can’t do everything. - Have someone you can trust and share your feelings with—and allow them to be honest with you. - Let things go that don’t need to be held onto. - Don’t lose sight of your blessings. Here are some special things I do when I’m having trouble coping: - I sort my jewelry (nothing spectacular, just old favorites) - I read old cards and letters—how quickly I am whisked away to another time. - I have a foot bath—first very warm water for 3 minutes, then plunge them into cold water for 1 minute. - I call someone I haven’t talked to for years—maybe an old grade school friend. One sure way to improve your ability to cope with your burden of caregiving—do something for another caregiver.
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