By Sandra Ray, Staff Writer
Self-Care:
As the caregiver, you may find there are times
when you will need to take a break from the everyday
stresses. While you are not the one undergoing
treatment, caregiving can take a serious toll. Some
studies indicate that caregivers face stresses like:
Inability to control the situation their
loved one faces
Feeling overwhelmed
Role confusion or sudden role changes
(moving from spouse to caregiver or adult child
to caregiver of a parent)
Not managing expectations – trying to do too
much too quickly
If caregivers do not manage their own personal
feelings and emotions with relation to their already
pressure-packed situation, they can set themselves
and their loved ones up for even more demanding
situations. Burn-out in caregivers is common,
unfortunately. It manifests itself in many ways,
including:
Illness for the caregiver
Apathy about their role as caregiver
Depression
Social withdrawal
Irritability or increased anxiety
There are simple activities that can go a long way
in improving caregiver attitudes and relieving
stressful situations. Some of these include:
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