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Eldercare
& Caregiver Resource Center:
Caring for Yourself as You Care for Someone Else: Caregiving & Loss
Providing
care for a friend or family member can be very exhausting at times. There
are physical care needs along with the emotions you feel as you adjust to
changes in your friend or family member’s life. With each change, you
may experience feelings of loss. Coping with these feelings while you
provide care for your friend or family member can be a challenge. Here are
some of the feelings you may experience:
Reactions
to Loss and Change
-
Guilt
-
Sadness
-
Anxiety
-
Withdrawal
-
Irritability
-
Feeling
overwhelmed
-
Anger/frustration
-
Feeling
helpless
-
Change
in appetite
Steps
for Coping with Loss
-
Talk
about your feelings
Good friends, religious or spiritual care providers or family
members can be a good source of support. Reach out to others - this
will help reduce feelings of isolation.
-
Join
a support group
Support Groups provide caregivers with the opportunity to share with
other caregivers and learn from one another. For those who feel
isolated by their caregiving responsibilities, you can join a group by
telephone or by the Internet. Local organizations often provide
support groups that you can attend in person.
-
Write
your feelings down
Writing or journaling is not for everyone. For individuals who enjoy
writing, it can be a wonderful way to express feeling of loss and
grief. It doesn’t matter what you write or how you spell — the
process of putting your feelings down on paper is what’s most
important, not what the end result looks like.
-
Read
a book on coping with grief
There are several books available on the issues of caregiving,
self-help, grieving and loss.
-
Get
help when needed
Coping with changes or loss is a lot like adjusting to a broken
arm. You may experience pain, and you may need assistance dealing with
this pain. You may need help with meeting the demands of caregiving.
-
If
available, family and friends can provide some of the assistance
you may need at this time.
-
There
are also professionals available for hire.
-
The
Internet is another resource for finding help nationally and in
your community
-
Community
organizations are a great resource for various types of help.
Local religious organizations and organizations such as your local
Cancer, Lung, or Alzheimer Association can help in many ways.
-
Make
time for you
Do what works for you. For some individuals that may mean time
spent with friends, family members or participating in a group. Others
may need time alone. There are still others who need to spend time
doing something. You may need to garden, plant tree, or go for a walk.
Do whatever it takes to express your feelings so you continue doing
the things that are important to you.
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