You may be no stranger to stress as a caregiver, but that doesn’t mean that it has to dictate all of your actions. Getting a handle on you stress levels is definitely possible, but you may need to make some changes that are uncomfortable at first.
How Do You Talk to Yourself?
When you’re stressed, you’re probably not very nice to yourself. That could show in subtle ways, like constantly pushing yourself to do more and to not take breaks, or it can be more obvious. How do you talk to yourself? If you’re saying things to yourself in your head that you wouldn’t say to anyone out loud, ever, you need to look at the effect stress is having on you.
Where Do You Fall in the Priority List?
Are you low on your own priority list? It might feel like that’s how things have to be right now with caregiving taking up most of your time and energy, but it’s backward. When you’re putting your needs higher on the priority list, you’re going to have what you need to do for others, especially your senior family member. It’s tough at first to rearrange those priorities, but it’s worth the initial discomfort.
Are You Taking Breaks?
Part of what you need to prioritize is time away. Regular breaks, both small ones each day and longer ones during the week, are going to help you to recharge yourself. If your elderly family member needs to have someone with her, consider hiring home care providers. They can do a lot more for your senior during the day than you might think and they may become a valuable part of your caregiving plan.
You May Not Have to Step Away Altogether
The long and short of it is that if you don’t do something different, stress can do such a number on you that you need to step away from being a caregiver for your senior. That’s probably not what you want at all and it’s something that can take a big emotional toll on you. But you have to do something different in order to counter your stress.
You’re never going to completely eliminate stress, but you can significantly reduce the impact of stress on your life and your health. As a caregiver, you have to do that so that you can keep giving care to the people that you love.
If you or an aging loved-one is considering home care in Modesto, CA, please contact the caring staff at Provident Care Home Care today at (209) 578-1210.
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