adminDr. Mazvita Machinga Mental Health
Remember, as a caregiver the best gift you can give to the person you are caring for is to stay strong and healthy. The following are some hints that will help you to be a healthy care giver.
In this article, I think of all the people, rather than professional health caregivers, and all the great work they do in taking care of the sick. Have you ever been a caregiver?
Has anyone you love been sick and you find yourself taking care of them. Or are you currently taking care of your loved one who is sick? This article is for you. From my experience as a psychotherapist and a chaplain intern, I have learned that caregivers, who do not take their own health seriously, will end up not doing a better job in turn.
When I talk of care giving in this article, I mean the care that is provided by a family member or friend rather than by a professional who is reimbursed for services.
While care giving role is unavoidable when your loved one gets sick; or can be rewarding and fulfilling, it is important to know that care giving role can be stressful and burdensome.
It creates physical and psychological strain over extended periods of time. It also may be accompanied by high levels of unpredictability.
In addition, it has the capacity to create secondary stress in work and family relationships. While supporting or helping others when sick may be beneficial to health, you need to know that there are sometimes health effects of care giving.
Everyone reading this paper may at one time or another taken care of a loved one when they were sick. While we all have to care for our sick loved ones, and also need to be cared for when we are sick, it is important to know that care giving can be detrimental to one’s health.
Furthermore, while care giving makes us feel good about ourselves, gives meaning to our lives, enables us to learn new skills, research has found that care giving is a major public health issue with repercussion that need to be watched over.
Onset of an illness, and in particular chronic illness and physical disability are stressful for both the patient and the caregivers. Care giving comes with its own stressors that may lead to psychological stress and impaired health behaviors. The psychological stress stimulates physiologic responses resulting in illness and mortality.
Unfortunately, while conducting this important task of care giving, some caregivers end up neglecting their own health care, eating poorly and sometimes not sleeping adequately. Some caregivers first experience distress and depression, which are followed by physiologic changes and impaired health habits that ultimately lead to their illness and possibly to death. Not good haah!!
Remember, as a caregiver the best gift you can give to the person you are caring for is to stay strong and healthy. The following are some hints that will help you to be a healthy care giver.
1) Don’t do it alone – Trying to do everything by yourself will leave you exhausted and worn out. Seek support from family, friends, and your faith community, professional and or charity organizations. Get regular physical checkups with your doctor.
2) Detect early warnings of stress, sleeplessness, or changes in appetite or decreased interest in usual activities and seek help- take a break and be aware of caregiver burnout.
3) Listen to what your body is tell ing you. Ignoring these symptoms can cause your physical and mental health to decline.
4) Ask for help and take some time off.
5) Express your emotions and feelings never bottle up – The challenges of taking care of a sick loved one can bring out many unexpected emotions. Be open to discussing what you feel with someone you trust.
6) Nurture your mind, body and spirit – Recharge through exercise, social and religious activities and find ways to relax and replenish your energy.
7) Manage your stress levels. Set personal goals. Visit a psychotherapist or counselor if need be.
8) Research the various care options in the community and be ready to accept changes in the condition of your loved one.
9) e realistic- after offering all the care some situations cannot be controlled. Grieve the losses, focus on positive times as they arise, and take pleasure in good memories.
10) Be grateful and stay positive.
The take home message is that as a caregiver, you are doing a great job . You must balance caring for someone else and caring for yourself. Otherwise, you may experience caregiver burnout and develop serious health problems and that is not good at all.
For more information and help contact Dr. Mazvita Machinga Ph.D. a trained and qualified Psychotherapist in Mutare who offers psychotherapy and professional counseling [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>, or call 0771 754 519.
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