A Self-Help Approach to Coping with Caregiver Stress
Caregiving can bring forth an ever-changing kaleidoscope of emotions. These feelings are often bittersweet, but without the proper preparations and assistance, things can quickly skew towards bitter. Left unchecked, many of these emotions may lead to persistent guilt, depression, anxiety, and caregiver burnout.
While counseling or therapy is recommended for people who are struggling with these negative feelings, many wish to handle such challenges on their own. Professional help can be extremely beneficial, but there are steps that caregivers can take by themselves to better handle the emotional challenges of caregiving and get more comfortable with the idea of seeking outside assistance.
Self-Care Is Not Selfish
Former graphic designer Koko Kawasaki, M.A., is no stranger to the importance of respite and self-care for caregivers. The experience of caring for her father, who suffered from multiple health issues, including stroke and vascular dementia, inspired her to earn her master’s degree in gerontology to help other families like hers.
Self-care tends to be one of the biggest challenges for those who are caring for ill and aging loved ones, but Kawasaki agrees that it is a necessity for wellness of the entire care team. Even though this is a need we all understand the importance of, there is something about caregiving that triggers guilt in anyone who yearns for a moment alone to pursue physical and mental healing.
“I initially did not think of caring for myself because I thought it would take time away from caring for my father,” Kawasaki admits. Determining how much time and effort to devote to oneself is a common dilemma for many family caregivers. Even when they allow themselves a marginal amount of respite, many fear they are being selfish with their already limited resources.
“In time, though,” Kawasaki, recalls, “I realized that if I didn’t make self-care a priority, my attitude and my ability to look after my father would both be negatively affected. In hindsight, I believe that making…
Continue reading on Agingcare for thoughts on self-care and how understanding the concept better can help you help yourself:
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