iSavta | 21.03.2021
Home caregiving can often feel too daunting and demanding that it can just be tempting to just throw your hands up in the air and surrender.
Stress is something that is almost synonymous with being a caregiver that is why it is important to take some time out for yourself or else, you will end up sick.
Check out these 5 tips on how to deal with the stress that comes with home caregiving:
- Have a Clear Definition of Your Responsibilities
It is extremely critical to identify what you are responsible for and what you are not and the things within your control and those that are not. There is no way you can control someone else’s behaviors, feelings, and thoughts. While it is healthy to empathize, you are not in any way responsible to feel guilty for the way another person expresses or feels their pain. Make sure to put a limit on how much you can give before you have to stop and step back for your personal wellbeing.
- Know the Difference between Concern and Worry
Worry is the constant thinking of things that are out of your control while concern is the focus on things you can make different and change. Instead of asking yourself why to focus on “what” and “how” instead. How can you make the situation better? What can you do to make the situation better? Asking “why” questions will only trap you in an endless cycle of worries that can lead to unhealthy levels of stress.
- Seek Help When Possible
One of the unhealthiest emotions is feeling helpless. This can make you want to run away and escape as far as you can. On the other hand, one very healthy emotion is to admit weakness. Once you have recognized and accepted your weaknesses, it will be easier for you to seek help and stop beating yourself up by trying to change situations, not within your control.
- Set Apart Sadness and Depression
Sadness is another healthy emotion that you feel when experiencing a loss. Every time you are sad, you recognize how painful the loss is but you know deep in your heart that it will pass, too. Meanwhile, depression is an unhealthy way of reacting to the same situation and takes place when you feel that the loss is permanent, meaning your life is no longer worthy to live and is worthless.
A healthy caregiver recognizes that loss and pain are not permanent at all. However, through their positive views in life or their faith, they recognize that these difficult circumstances are only temporary, with everything working together for good.
- Don’t Forget That Resentment and Anger are Not the Same
Finally, being resentful of situations or patients can make you retaliate in an unhealthy way. When you are resentful, you strike back, retaliate, get crabby, or even take revenge. On the other hand, anger is considered a healthy emotion.
The difference between these two is that anger addresses the other person’s behavior faces it head-on and takes the necessary action to solve an actual violation. As for resentment, it is more of taking things on a personal level, attacking the person and declaring them as worthless.
Don’t forget to focus on the behaviors instead of the value of a person. Every human being has infinite worth even though everyone makes mistakes.
Use these tips and keep your stress levels down as much as possible.
