It is not easy for anyone to take care of others, caring is not an easy task and requires time, dedication, effort and responsibility, when someone’s well-being depends on you, the energy invested and the time spent can be exhausting.
In many cases, and without the person being fully aware of it, the caregiver leaves aside his personal life and health to assume his new functions; sometimes, in the task of caring, the most important thing is neglected: taking care of oneself.
- Those who spend part of their time in caring for others need adequate personal health and support.
- Taking care of yourself and taking time for yourself is critical.
Just as a person does not become dependent overnight, a person does not become an overnight caregiver. When a family member starts having problems, there is an adjustment process where the future caregiver adapts to their new role.
The caregiver often goes through a series of steps before adapting to the new situation. It is common for the person to initially refuse to accept that their loved one needs help in their daily activities. There comes a time when difficulties are so obvious that it is not possible to continue denying the new reality.
Once the person accepts that their loved one needs help, they start looking for information: what disease they are suffering from, how they can evolve, what care they will need, etc. Difficult feelings to bear at this stage, such as sadness, guilt, anger, or frustration, are common.
Gradually new responsibilities are assumed and times and resources are organized around the person who needs our care, and to a greater or lesser extent caregivers tend to adapt to this new stage of their life.
When someone becomes a caregiver, their life as planned earlier changes. The new situation can bring changes in family, work, personal relationships, as well as physical and mental health.
The caregiver is likely to begin to feel guilty for believing that they are not doing their job well or for feeling an intense feeling of loneliness. It is also common for caregivers to isolate themselves from others, which can exacerbate negative feelings.
When taking care of each other so much, the person stops taking care of themselves, signs begin to appear indicating that something is wrong, it is important to pay attention to the warning signs so that you can give a solution when they appear.
Some of the signs that tell us we’re about to overload ourselves are
It is essential to take care of yourself to take care of someone else, here are some of the habits that can help maintain physical and mental balance:
When one person spends a lot of time caring for another, they can enter a fatigue spiral from which it is difficult to escape. If you’re overwhelmed by the pace of life, ask for help as soon as possible. Take care so you can. Take care of a life without consuming yours.