Caregiver in Mt. Gilead OH
From sad to guilty to angry, family caregivers may be feeling a variety of emotions that change each day. By keeping these feelings locked inside without an outlet to release them, it could build up causing a serious medical condition down the road. The American Psychological Association reported that a higher number of caregivers had increased stress/distress, emotional problems, depression, and cognitive problems. Before you let these emotions overtake your mental and physical health, especially while providing in-home care for your elderly loved one, knowing how to manage these symptoms could help improve your mood and help you become a better caregiver.
Anger or Frustration
Especially when your loved one is exhibiting difficult behavior, it can be easy to turn to feelings of anger and frustration. However, by not dealing with it head on, you could end up taking out your anger on the person you are caring for, the doctor, insurance companies, and basically anyone who even looks in your direction. One way to release these negative feelings is by focusing closely to the task at hand instead of holding on to anger from a challenging caregiving experience you had. This will free your mind from these burdening thoughts in order to let you think about what you are doing at that very moment. Deep, slow breaths have also been proven to lighten moods and transition even the angriest person into one that is calm and content.
Stress
Stress is one of the most common feelings among family caregivers because these people are often the only ones in charge of a loved one’s health. This could be a huge undertaking and one that may make you think about what could happen if you make the wrong decision. Irritability, feelings of resentment, and neglecting one’s own responsibilities are all signs that the caregiver is feeling stressed. Before it affects your health, make sure to talk to your doctor about these feelings to get suggestions of what you should do to alleviate these feelings. Also, taking a time out for yourself is important in order to give you a chance to unwind. Go for a walk, read a book, or meet up with friends or other family members.
Burnout
Providing long-term elder care can take a toll on your emotions, resulting in caregiver burnout. Neglecting your own health, feeling hopeless or helpless, and becoming increasingly agitated with the loved one you are caring for are all symptoms of burnout. When this happens, it is no longer safe for you to care for your aging family member. Ask other family members if they could take over for you for as long as you need to be back to your old self. If other family members are not available, consider hiring a home aide. This professional often has a medical background and would be able to provide experienced home care while you take a much needed break.
Guilt
Guilt may sneak up on you when you feel as if you should be helping out more or providing better care for your loved one. This feeling may also arise if your loved one has a medical condition and you feel like you should do more to help rid them of the illness. It is a completely normal feeling to have, but by letting others help take some of the workload off of your shoulders, you will soon be feeling much less guilty.
If you are considering hiring caregiver services in Mt. Gilead, Ohio, call the caring staff at Central Star Home Health at (419) 610-2161. Providing services for families in Mansfield, Lexington, Ashland, Bellville, Crestline, Galion, Loudonville, Mt. Gilead, Shelby, Wooster and the surrounding areas.
Source
American Psychological Association. “Family Caregiving.”
Buck, Kirsten. Top Ten Reviews. “Caregivers Guide to Managing Negative Emotions.” 13 Aug 2015.
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