Caring for someone can be emotionally draining. You could feel grief for your previous life, or the life you had planned to have with the person you care for. You could feel upset seeing someone you love in pain. You could feel exhausted because of the pressures and workload. You could feel anxious about what life will be like in the future. You could be worried about the financial implications of your family member needing care. Or you could feel angry at how unfair the situation feels.
The most important thing to remember is that it is completely normal to experience any or all of these emotions, and others too. Caring can be challenging, and it is normal to feel overwhelmed at times.
There are ways you can help manage your emotions.
Talk to someone you trust. It might feel hard to talk about how you’re feeling. However many people find that sharing their experiences can help them feel better. Having someone listen and show they care can help in itself.
You might not feel like you can open up to someone close to you. But you could call a helpline to speak to someone confidentially. For example, you could call Samaritans any time on 116 123.
Peer support brings together people with shared experiences, to support each other. Many people find it helps them to share ideas about how to stay well, connect with others, and feel less alone. By getting involved in one of our many support groups or activities, you will meet people who understand the challenges you face.
Mindfulness is a way of giving your full attention to the present moment. Some studies show that practising mindfulness can help to manage depression and improve wellbeing.
There are also some mindfulness-based therapies that can help treat mental health problems. For example, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is recommended for managing depression. Mind has some useful resources to help.
Looking after your physical health Experiencing depression can make it hard to find the energy to look after yourself. But taking steps to look after your physical health can make a difference in how you feel. Walking for 30 minutes a day or more, several times a week is a great way to improve or maintain your overall physical and mental health. Walking in Warwickshire has some lovely routes to explore.
