Acknowledging our Caregivers
For a client to form a link of trust and friendship with their caregiver, the caregiver must possess specific emotional qualities. Because they give up the life they had planned for themselves to care for another person, caregivers are unselfish. They need to acknowledge the possible psychological consequences of what they do daily. They must take care of their own physical and mental health if they are to perform at the highest level at work. Seeking treatment is a normal experience for caregivers, but what's surprising is that a lot of them still feel guilty and believe their problems aren't as serious as those of their clients.
Who Is a Caregiver?
A caregiver need not just be a medical professional like a CNA or a doctor. It can be your child, your parent, or your grandparent. Acknowledging the existence of a caregiver in a family is extremely important. During caregiving mental health workshops, many people seem to feel guilty about not doing enough for their loved ones. Many come to terms with the fact that they have been a caregiver all their lives and never got time to live their dreams or pursue their passions. Most people in caregiving roles are women in the 40-70 age bracket who seek therapy later in life. They all admit that it has been challenging for them to live a life of their own after their loved ones passed away.
Therapy For Caregivers
Therapy is important for people with the role of caregivers. It helps them acknowledge the various emotions they feel inside safely and securely. They feel:
● Misunderstood
● Not seen
● Angry
● Emptiness
● Grief
● Like they have no life of their own
Most of these caregivers are caring for elders who dislike them and this takes a toll on their self-esteem where they feel they cannot escape and have thin patience for the family member. This can be extremely toxic for their mental health. The whole family needs to acknowledge such situations and come out for support and advice.
It Is Okay To Feel That Way!
Guilt is a huge part of caregiving and it is okay to let oneself grieve over missed trips, canceling plans with friends, or missing out on important family milestones. It’s like grieving the loss of a life you had envisioned for yourself.
How Can You Overcome Caregiver Grief?
The only way is to keep looking ahead and not backward. We, at Heart of Mercy Home Care, believe in caring for the caregiver. While providing complete support for the seniors and the ill, we also believe in providing counsel and emotional support to the mighty caregivers in our homes. As a care community, we believe in offering counseling to the caregiver who may be struggling with their normal life. If you care for a loved one at home, here are a few tips that you can acknowledge and inculcate in your daily life.
❖ Acknowledge Your Emotional Distress: Admit your guilt and grief to yourself to move on to acceptance and overcoming these feelings. It is hard to let go of these feelings completely, but acceptance can help you understand your physical and emotional reactions to any situation.
❖ Ambivalent Emotions Are Normal: Therapy is important for caregivers because it is common for them to develop psychological conditions like depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. A caregiver feels a spectrum of emotions on any given day, and it is important to acknowledge and accept those with a certified therapist.
❖ Maintain A Daily Routine: It is important to maintain a daily routine in your life so you can find time for yourself as well. Regulate your sleep so you do not feel drowsy and tired, which may take an emotional toll on you..
❖ Eat Healthy And Exercise: These are self-caring behaviors that help in maintaining your health and strength. Caregiving can be a very physically draining job and exercise can help you in building up your strength.
❖ You Can’t Do It All: Yes, you cannot! It is okay to accept that and ask for help. Be open to receiving help as well when it comes your way. Sometimes trust the professionals to help you in tasks that may be too difficult for you.
Caregiver-friendly Policies:
At a policy level, we need to acknowledge the number of people offering caregiving with any support from outside so governments can build more programs around their needs. But as people, we can do our part by creating support groups and community resources. Such resources can help caregivers deal with the stress and burnout which is associated with caregiving.
We all need to remember that in the end, we will all require caregiving from our loved ones at some point. Government and support programs need to initiate policies and groups that will create a positive environment for caregivers. We may be the ones offering care to our loved ones, so recognizing the needs of such groups is essential. At Heart of Mercy Homecare, we acknowledge the care that caregivers need and the counsel they may require at any stage of caregiving.