Caregivers, Taking Care of Yourself Matters
Are you often taking care of others? Do you have children who need lots of support? Do your parents or other family members lean on you for help? Are you the person that your friends turn to when they are in crisis? Are you a professional caregiver, such as a nurse or a counselor? Whatever type of caretaking you are doing, it may be time to put the focus on you.
Giving Back Offers Emotional Rewards
Caregiving can be very rewarding. Studies have shown the benefits of giving back. Helping others can help us feel better. Caretaking can give us a sense of purpose and fulfillment. It helps us to feel connected to others, which is one of the great keys to happiness.
Caregiving & Burning The Candle At Both Ends
Let’s first acknowledge that being a good caregiver is challenging. Taking care of ourselves can already feel hard. Adding another person or group to the mix can be especially difficult. You need skills, but also empathy, patience, flexibility, reliability and good communication. You also need time, energy, and resources to care for others.
Caregiving can be all-consuming, often leaving little time and energy for self-care. Many caregivers prioritize others’ needs above their own. This can lead to neglecting their physical and mental well-being in the process. The cycle continues and that’s when burnout, resentment and physical issues arise. All of these are harder to bounce back from than you may realize.
The first step is noticing when these symptoms of burnout are showing up. Are you beginning to feel irritable, drained, or impatient? Are you experiencing physical symptoms or consistent fatigue? As you start checking in with these feelings, it may be a signal to spend more time on self care.
Self Care For Caregivers Is Not Selfish
Self care is an important component of a healthy and balanced life – for anyone. One could argue that it is even more crucial for caregivers. With great responsibility comes a need for more self care. More tasks, stress, and emotional weight leads to fatigue. Whether you have compassion fatigue or literal fatigue, staying charged is key. It is not selfish to prioritize taking care of oneself – it is necessary. We truly “cannot fill from an empty cup.” There are tools and habits that can be customized to metaphorically fill your own cup and allow for more capacity to care for others. With the right tools and a lot of self-care, caretaking can be sustainable and rewarding.
Therapy Can Empower Caregiving
If you are caring for a family member, friend, loved one or are a professional caregiver, therapy can help. Therapy offers a safe and confidential space to express yourself. It can also help you gain insight into what’s going on in your world. You can learn coping strategies to manage difficult moments. Therapy can give you the opportunity to focus on your own needs and well-being.
Keep in mind that therapists are also trained caregivers. They are trained professionals who can relate to your situation. They can help you work through your feelings, thoughts and behaviors. You can explore stress, anxiety, guilt and other common emotions experienced by caregivers. You can also learn healthier coping mechanisms. You can learn how to set boundaries and other stress management strategies.
7 Benefits of Therapy for Caregivers
- Get Some Emotional Support Of Your Own.Taking care of someone can make you feel a variety of emotions. These can be positive and negative. You can feel love and compassion, but also frustration or sadness. This is especially confusing when you are caring for close loved ones. Therapy gives caregivers a safe place to talk about these feelings in a judgment free zone. Therapy helps to process the experience of holding two conflicting emotions at the same time – a very common occurrence for caregivers. You can gain understanding of your feelings and learn better ways to deal with them. You deserve to feel supported.
- Manage Your Stress So Your Stress Doesn’t Manage You.The demands of caregiving can be overwhelming, leading to increased stress levels. Therapy can help you learn some new techniques to manage your stress. Examples are mindfulness strategies and boundary setting. These tools can help caregivers reduce stress and prevent burnout.
- Explore Who You Are Beyond Caregiving.Are you always giving? Do you have a hard time receiving support? Where does this come from? It can be very helpful to take a good look at your own values, beliefs, and priorities. Therapy is a nonjudgmental space to explore your self-worth and identity beyond the caregiver role. You can explore your interests, goals, and desires outside of your caregiving role. This self-awareness can lead to greater fulfillment and a sense of purpose.
- Get Some Skills To Help Solve Problems.Caregivers often face complex challenges and difficult decisions in their role. Therapy can help you develop some problem-solving skills. It can also help you learn some decision-making strategies. The goal is to be able to navigate these challenges more effectively. Together with your therapist, you can explore various options for how to respond.
- Access Caregiver Relationship Support.Caregiving can impact relationships with family members, friends, and significant others. Therapy provides caregivers with tools to improve communication, set boundaries, and strengthen relationships. Some relationship issues can also benefit from couples or family therapy. Couples or family therapy is a safe and non judgmental space. The goal is to address conflicts, enhance understanding and improve a greater connection.
- Process with Others.Being a caregiver can feel lonely at times, especially due to the unique experiences that caregivers face. Connecting with other caregivers can be an extremely validating experience. Support can come from those who deeply understand how you feel, and this provides a space to unpack emotions together. This can happen both in individual therapy or in the group therapy setting.
Build Resilience with Therapy
You don’t have to be falling apart physically and emotionally to seek therapy. Therapy is not reserved for those experiencing severe mental health issues. It can be a valuable tool for anyone facing life’s challenges, including caregivers.
Caregiving can be incredibly rewarding and fulfilling. However, it can also be very demanding and challenging, both emotionally and physically. In the midst of caring for others, it’s crucial not to overlook the importance of caring for yourself. The airlines would agree. Putting on your oxygen mask first will ensure that you can help your loved one.
If you or someone you know is seeking a therapist, we invite you to reach out to our client care team at (615) 582-2882 or clientcare@nashvillepsych.com.We are here to help. If we aren’t a fit, we will kindly refer you to another resource in our community or beyond.
