4 Coping Strategies that Come in Handy as a Family Caregiver

Family caregivers deal with stress quite a bit. If you manage it properly, it won’t take over. Managing stress improperly, however, can lead to bigger emotional and physical problems down the road.

Learn How to Say “No” and Mean It 

Often family caregivers feel that they have to say yes to every situation that crops up. The thing is, you really don’t have to. If there is a situation that you can’t deal with or that you cannot handle for someone, you can say no. One way to help yourself feel better about saying no is to have a system in place for offering that person a solution. If, for example, your loved one wants you to quit work and stay with her full time, you don’t have to agree to that. You can enlist the help of other family members or elderly care providers to stay with your loved one when you can’t be there.

Make Your Own Health a Priority for Yourself 

Family caregivers are notorious for neglecting their own health while worrying about the health of other people in their lives. Do yourself a huge favor and start to pay attention to your own health now. You can manage your stress better, sleep better, and help to prevent potential chronic health problems later by simply becoming more aware of your own health now.

Keep Your Sense of Humor about Life 

Do you find that you’re not laughing about much anymore? Life can sometimes feel pretty harsh and unwelcoming at times, but if you have your sense of humor about it, some of those situations aren’t nearly as bad as they might first seem. Start trying to find the funny in every situation that occurs in your day. When you can laugh, you’re still doing okay.

Recognize Your Own Boundaries 

We all have emotional and physical boundaries. If we allow people to cross those boundaries too often, we start to resent the situation and the person. Start to feel out your boundaries and develop a plan for what your actions will be when someone approaches or crosses your boundaries.

If you need help learning how to use any of these coping mechanisms, talking to a professional counselor or therapist can really give you the one on one help that you need.

If you or an aging loved one are considering in-home Caregiver Services in Stamford CT, please contact the caring staff at Fairfield Family Care today.