How can a caregiver cope with all this?

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Photo by Milada Vigerova on Unsplash
Caregivers work under continual and high levels of stress.
 
They have to deal with running a household as well as the demands of caring for a loved one with a mental illness.
 
What does this involve?
 
Well, let’s first look at household pressures:
 
Household pressures
 
– handling household budget (with soaring inflation)
– ensuring the house is clean and tidy
– lack of help from other adults with household tasks
– balancing work-home demands
– settling arguments and fights
 
PLUS
 
Caregiver pressures
 
– dealing with disruptive behaviour
– ensuring medication taken in correct dose and at specified times
– handling personal hygiene issues
– demands of constant care
– feeling isolated and little time alone
 
With pressure like this in a household, how do caregivers cope?
 
What can they do to ease the burden of caring?
 
Let’s look at what caregivers can do.
 
 
Do caregivers need help?
 
– need to learn about the illness
– sharing experiences with others confidentially
– emotional involvement increases stress
– need outlet for pain, anger and sadness
– facing crises and uncertainty about problems
 
 
Caring for a loved one with a mental illness is very challenging.
 
Caregivers need various kinds of assistance, including practical support to deal with caring for the ill person and themselves.
 
 
 
 

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