Caring for a child, partner, friend or more generally someone who is sick and worrying about their health and well-being can be exhausting. This can sometimes lead to burnout. Most caregivers will keep doing what needs to be done. Some studies show that a a large percentage of caregivers spend a large part of their day supporting a love one who is ill.
The journey of someone with vasculitis may be full of stressful situations for patient, relative, and friend. Therefore, supporting a love one with vasculitis can also be an emotionally charged. In all likelihood, this might affect your emotional stability. Depending on the nature of the relationship, you could be emotionally affected by, for example, decision making, observing the continuous suffering of your love one, difficulty navigating the health care system and miscommunications. These aspects may lead to avoidance behaviour, and consequently increase emotional distress. Additionally, for some caregivers, there is a financial burden to caregiving, such as time away from work. All of this can have a negative effect on your mental health and well-being as a caregiver.
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Some tips to make sure you don’t forget to take care of yourself.
- Get some form of exercise like walking
- Have a support system as well. Call friends or family when you need to talk or need help.
- Stay connected with friends, acquaintances and colleagues even if you do have to cut back on time spent engaging with them.
- Eat well-balanced meals. Caregiving can leave precious little time and many turn to fast food.
- Take a break. Have a place where you can go to “escape” and just be by yourself.
- Set priorities each day and make sure the most important tasks get done.
- Get a good amount of sleep each night, and find time to rest throughout the day as well.
- Engage in some mindfulness practice at least once a week.
- Listen to music
- Recognize what is beyond your capacity and ask for help. Nobody can do everything. Please acknowledge your limits.
- Seek out agencies and community resources that support caregivers
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Seek Professional Help
Many, people wait till they are completely overwhelmed or depressed to seek help. Please keep in mind that an illness like vasculitis changes people’s plot. What this now means, is that, as a caregiver you have more responsibility at home, or there is a shift in the relationship dynamic. You may even feel frustrated that you can’t do enough, or stressed because you have more responsibility. Having a safe space that is yours to talk to some one, as well as learn some stress management skills is vital to successful care giving.