How To Focus on Self-Care When Caring For A Sick Loved One
Stephanie Griffin |
When caring for a sick loved one, other priorities seem to fall by the wayside. People focused on caring for others are more likely to be sleep deprived and have poor eating habits. When sick themselves, caregivers are less likely to see a doctor for their own ailments. Caregivers have a higher risk for suffering from depression, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
This can be particularly tough on the “sandwich generation” – those typically in their 30s, 40s, and 50s who have taken on the task of caring for both their parents and their children, in addition to maintaining their own careers and financial stability. All of these responsibilities can feel overwhelming, and we tend to put the well-being of our loved ones ahead of ourselves. However, if you are not adequately taking care of yourself, the care you have to offer others will suffer as well. No one benefits from you running yourself into the ground. When you exhaust all of your energy on your loved ones ahead of yourself, eventually you may start to feel bitterness or resentfulness toward your loved ones, and your friendships, romantic relationships, familial unity, your health, and financial stability will all suffer.
As much as you do not want to make your loved ones feel like a burden, the people close to you don’t think of your needs as a burden either. It’s okay to ask for help! Do not wait until you are exhausted and sleep deprived to finally give in and accept the help of others. When your family and friends offer to be there for you – they mean it! Figure out what specifically would help you the most – would you like someone to help prepare meals, stay with your loved one while you take a night off, or to help with household chores? Once you figure out what your needs are, you can ask your friends or family members who would be most suited to the task at hand for assistance. It is important to make specific requests for your exact needs to make sure those needs are met.
Focus on the basics first. Eating well and getting enough sleep should be your top priorities. Setting aside a specific amount of time for your own personal care is crucial – whether that be for a relaxing hot bath with a good book, yoga or other meditation, catching up with friends, or a mid-day nap. Taking time for yourself is not selfish, it is necessary. Your own health care needs must also be met. That means seeing a physician when you are feeling ill, and keeping your doctor apprised of any health care concerns you may have. Mental health care is also vital. If you are feeling overwhelmed, talk to someone about it! Sometimes you need to have an outside perspective to be able to see the big picture and tackle your stressors one by one.
There are many resources available for caregivers. A list of caregiver support groups in the Chicagoland area can be found here (http://sharenetworkchicago.org/resources/caregiver-support-groups). You can also find support at the Caregiver Action Network (https://caregiveraction.org/) and Family Caregiver Alliance (https://www.caregiver.org/).
For interpretation services, please call our main number
.png)