Caregiver Mental Health
Provided byFountain of Health
About This Resource
What It Does
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How It Helps
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Caregiver Mental Health
When you are a caregiver, you might put the needs of others before yourself. When we are giving care to others it may feel like we cannot give care to ourselves. However, when we do not take care of ourselves, the chances of high stress, physical health issues, and burnout increase.
Wellness is something that we can all have at the same time. It is important to show ourselves care, receive care from others, and help ourselves when we are being a caregiver to others. Caring for ourselves is a way to ensure we can give safe support to others over time. For example, when we are on a plane we are instructed to always put on our own safety equipment, like an oxygen mask, before helping others with theirs because if we do not, we will both suffer.
Self-care is a way to help you give safe support over time. Remember, there are situations where you need to put yourself first, so you can care for others. Taking care of yourself is key to staying true to yourself while caring for those who need your support.
Steps Towards Wellness
Below are some ways that you can take care of yourself.
Seeking Support: Finding and going to support groups and staying in contact with friends or professionals who understand the good and not great parts of caregiving is a great help. These spaces let you have an outlet for what you are feeling, get and give support, and share new ways of doing things.
Know where, when, and how you can seek help when needed: It is helpful to know where and how we can seek help before we become overwhelmed. If we seek help early and often, we can prevent stress from becoming unmanageable. If you are having feelings of sadness, anxiety, or stress regularly that affect your daily life, you may want to seek help. You could find help on Wellness Together Canada, reach out to family or friends, or a health care provider.
Manage Stress: There are many ways to manage stress. Many people find it helpful to use different ways to manage stress. For instance, some people might exercise and meditate a few times a week. Others go for a walk in nature and talk with family or friends. Some people find that listening to music or reading a book helps them to reduce stress. For many people, doing things that we feel passionate about can help us feel like ourselves and reduce our stress.
Slow down: Taking just a few minutes to pause and ground ourselves can help keep us calm throughout the day.
Understanding our limits: It is important to have a good understanding of our own limits and needs. When we push ourselves to care for others beyond our own personal limits, we can feel resentful, exhausted, and our quality of care decreases. We can communicate these limits as boundaries to others. Remember, our boundaries are our own responsibility to understand and uphold.
Take Care of Your Body: You also want to think about how you can take care of your body. This might be thinking about how much you sleep, eating healthy, or being physically active. When you do not take care of your body, you might find you have more stress and fatigue or have a harder time coping with difficult things.
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