Caregiver Stress
“My granny used to say, you’ve been through the wringer. And I felt those words deeply. Because life is a wringer. We squeeze ourselves dry, giving, giving, our whole lives long. Digging deeper. Going further. Being more. And just when we think we are dry, we are out, we find another drop of sacred self to save someone in need. But here’s the thing, my friends…the wringer must not be final, it’s supposed to be a fluid exercise, we soak, we are wrung dry, we do it all again. So don’t forget to soak. Thats the vital element in this journey. The soak. Keep soaking.” by Donna Ashworth
Do you resonate with feeling like you are going through a wringer some days? Are there times when you feel worn out or depleted? Perhaps you feel stressed with all your duties as a caregiver or frustrated with your person and then guilty about how you treated them.
I’m sure you have heard well-meaning advice, like “take care of yourself”. I’ve heard caregivers respond to this saying “there is not enough time” OR “I don’t know what I would do”. I’m sure you have heard the saying, “we have to put our own oxygen mask on first before caring for others”. What does it mean to soak?
I’m not talking about going to the spa! We all know the benefits of taking time for ourselves, eating well, sleeping and exercising. Beyond that I am suggesting that there are ways that we can bring a pause to our lives. Our minds often worry about the future or we ruminate about the past. Bringing ourselves back to the present moment is one way we can get grounded and reduce caregiver stress.
This can take a few moments in your day. You start by noticing your surroundings. Notice the trees, sky, birds chirping, children playing, whatever you can see or hear. Try it right now: use your 5 senses to guide you. Then notice if anything has shifted for you. This simple exercise can help to ground you, give you a bit of space and keep soaking!
Caregivers have told me that they benefit by talking to others: sometimes it is reassuring to share with other caregivers who are experiencing similar challenges. Caregivers say it is helpful to gain another perspective and learn ways to cope better. I invite you to contact Colleen to book an appointment or to find out information about upcoming caregiver groups.