There are a tremendous number of stressful situations and heartbreaking losses that caregivers have to deal with as a loved one’s physical and cognitive abilities decline. You grieve the loss of who that person used to be and the relationship you once had with them. You fear how bad it’s going to get, how long it’s going to last and how much it’s going to cost. You struggle with feelings of anger, guilt, depression and grief.
In short, it is an incredibly difficult journey. In order to survive it, you must learn to take care of yourself emotionally as well as physically.
I recently wrote an article for RewireMe.com in which I list five strategies that can help you maintain your emotional equilibrium. The steps are:
- Find a safe place to express your feelings
- Hang on to your identity
- Fill your own tank
- Let go of what was. Accept what is
- Cut yourself a lot of slack
To read more, please click on this link to my article: Five Steps for Managing the Stress, Losses, and Challenges of Caregiving
