Summary
- Taking care of your own health should be a priority.
- Don’t let yourself feel guilty or responsible.
- Avoid unnecessary stress.
Caring for a family member with an illness can be hard. The person who gives most of the care is often the last one to get their own needs met. It is important to remember if you don’t keep yourself well, you are less able to care for your family member who has illness. There are things you can do to keep yourself healthy.
- Taking care of your own health should be first on your list. Eat right, exercise, and get eight hours of sleep. Avoid alcohol and drugs not prescribed by your doctor.
- Don’t feel like you have to do it all. Caring for someone with an illness can leave little time for you or other family members. Keep a strong network of friends. Connect with others who are having similar problems through support or church groups. They can help you.
- Make time to do something for yourself. Visit friends, take a class, or do a hobby. Even going to work can be a break from the demands of caring for a loved one.
- Friends are important. When you spend all of your time caring for a family member, friends may drift away. Don’t let this happen. Keep in touch with your friends. You can share your feelings or just have fun. Fun is a great stress reliever.
- Don’t let yourself feel guilty or like it’s your fault. Your loved one’s illness is not your fault. Being angry all the time doesn’t solve problems. In fact, it can cause other problems. If you can’t get on top of these feelings, you might want to think about counseling for yourself.
- Think ahead. There are many things you can do to keep stress under control. Be prepared. Keep an extra supply of meds for your loved one in case you run out and can’t get to a pharmacy.
- Always remember that you have courage and strength. Rely on these when times get tough.
©2010-2021 Carelon Behavioral Health
Summary
- Taking care of your own health should be a priority.
- Don’t let yourself feel guilty or responsible.
- Avoid unnecessary stress.
Caring for a family member with an illness can be hard. The person who gives most of the care is often the last one to get their own needs met. It is important to remember if you don’t keep yourself well, you are less able to care for your family member who has illness. There are things you can do to keep yourself healthy.
- Taking care of your own health should be first on your list. Eat right, exercise, and get eight hours of sleep. Avoid alcohol and drugs not prescribed by your doctor.
- Don’t feel like you have to do it all. Caring for someone with an illness can leave little time for you or other family members. Keep a strong network of friends. Connect with others who are having similar problems through support or church groups. They can help you.
- Make time to do something for yourself. Visit friends, take a class, or do a hobby. Even going to work can be a break from the demands of caring for a loved one.
- Friends are important. When you spend all of your time caring for a family member, friends may drift away. Don’t let this happen. Keep in touch with your friends. You can share your feelings or just have fun. Fun is a great stress reliever.
- Don’t let yourself feel guilty or like it’s your fault. Your loved one’s illness is not your fault. Being angry all the time doesn’t solve problems. In fact, it can cause other problems. If you can’t get on top of these feelings, you might want to think about counseling for yourself.
- Think ahead. There are many things you can do to keep stress under control. Be prepared. Keep an extra supply of meds for your loved one in case you run out and can’t get to a pharmacy.
- Always remember that you have courage and strength. Rely on these when times get tough.
©2010-2021 Carelon Behavioral Health
Summary
- Taking care of your own health should be a priority.
- Don’t let yourself feel guilty or responsible.
- Avoid unnecessary stress.
Caring for a family member with an illness can be hard. The person who gives most of the care is often the last one to get their own needs met. It is important to remember if you don’t keep yourself well, you are less able to care for your family member who has illness. There are things you can do to keep yourself healthy.
- Taking care of your own health should be first on your list. Eat right, exercise, and get eight hours of sleep. Avoid alcohol and drugs not prescribed by your doctor.
- Don’t feel like you have to do it all. Caring for someone with an illness can leave little time for you or other family members. Keep a strong network of friends. Connect with others who are having similar problems through support or church groups. They can help you.
- Make time to do something for yourself. Visit friends, take a class, or do a hobby. Even going to work can be a break from the demands of caring for a loved one.
- Friends are important. When you spend all of your time caring for a family member, friends may drift away. Don’t let this happen. Keep in touch with your friends. You can share your feelings or just have fun. Fun is a great stress reliever.
- Don’t let yourself feel guilty or like it’s your fault. Your loved one’s illness is not your fault. Being angry all the time doesn’t solve problems. In fact, it can cause other problems. If you can’t get on top of these feelings, you might want to think about counseling for yourself.
- Think ahead. There are many things you can do to keep stress under control. Be prepared. Keep an extra supply of meds for your loved one in case you run out and can’t get to a pharmacy.
- Always remember that you have courage and strength. Rely on these when times get tough.
©2010-2021 Carelon Behavioral Health