Just because you’re supposed to be the caregiver doesn’t mean that you should neglect your own needs. As a caregiver, you are the pillar of support that the person suffering from cancer goes to when they need help, but what happens when you’re the one needing support? Just think of it like this: if you go down, the person relying on you for care will also go down, which is why you shouldn’t neglect yourself.
You might wonder, “How do I start caring for myself better?” Luckily for you, in this article, we will discuss some simple self-care tips that every caregiver should do to stay fresh and in top shape, both mentally and physically. Let’s start.
Recognize Your Emotions As Valid
There’s nothing wrong with putting the emotions of your patients first over yours most of the time. After all, they are suffering from a medical condition and might even be struggling more with the treatment, which is especially common among cancer patients. However, as you are also human, you should also acknowledge that fact and tackle your emotional problems.
The first thing you should do is to recognize your own emotions as valid. Whatever you’re feeling, whether it be anger, exhaustion, or grief, it’s okay to go through it. Allow yourself a moment to recognize those feelings and internalize them.
Some people usually invalidate their feelings because they think their patients are suffering much worse, but that’s wrong. Bottling up emotions and covering them with guilt rarely have good results. To stay mentally healthy, you should start validating your thoughts and emotions.
Know What You Can’t Do
We are humans, and humans have limitations. Some caregivers try to do it all themselves and outright reject outside help. This is very unhealthy, especially in terms of mental health, because, in a way, you’re isolating, and that’s never a good thing. You should learn how to reach out to others and accept help even for the simplest things.
For example, if you know that you’re having a hard time lifting the patient, you might want to look for somebody to help you carry them. This is especially true if you’re not trained. In this case, it’s okay to look for professional services like home care nurses or physical therapists.
Seek Professional Help
It’s normal to feel overwhelmed and exhausted by caregiver responsibilities. This is especially true if you aren’t trained to be a caregiver. And the worst part of it is that it’s not just physically exhausting but mentally as well. Because of the constant stress, you slowly neglect your mental needs, leading to mental health issues down the line, if not soon. If you’re feeling one of these things, you might want to seek professional health:
- Feeling depressed, sick, or hopeless
- Dependant on alcohol
- Constant fighting with your spouse, kids, or other family members
- Feels like hurting yourself or taking your stress to other people
- Generally, not taking of yourself anymore
Schedule a Time Where You Don’t Talk About the Illness
As someone who’s usually stressed all the time, there are three types of activities that we want you to start doing regularly. The first one is an activity that involves another person, like a lunch date or a movie date. The second one is an activity that gives you a sense of accomplishment, like finishing a book, painting, exercising, etc. The last type is an activity that helps you relax, like watching a funny movie or walking in the park.
During these activities, you should take in the moment and not think about anything else. You should actively avoid thinking or talking about your patient’s illness or anything related to it, such as their medication, like the zofran dose for adults or the name of their doctor. as it will just sour the mood. Remember, you’re allowed to live, too.
Practice Deep Breathing
Sometimes, whenever we do our caregiver work, we just feel so exhausted that we just want to collapse. Of course, we don’t want to show any signs of weakness since it can discourage our patients. What you can do, however, is to try doing deep breathing.
If you feel the world is caving in on you, close your eyes and take a deep breath. Make sure that your chest is rising, but your shoulders stay in place. Before you exhale, count to three first and then release. Do this several times, and you’ll soon feel that your body is much lighter, and your mind will be grounded.
Final Words
As a caregiver, you have to do what you can for your patient to feel loved and taken care of. However, nothing should stop you from experiencing those feelings as well. You are the pillar of support for your patients, so you have to do everything to make them feel optimistic by being optimistic yourself. You can do that by following the self-care tips we discussed above.
