The Connection between Emotions and Stress for Caregivers
When you’re looking for ways to lower your stress level while caregiving, the first place you need to look is to your own emotions. They can tell you a lot about why you’re stressed and what to do about it.
Elderly Care Warren NJ – The Connection between Emotions and Stress for Caregivers
What You Feel Contributes to Your Stress
You might not think about it this way, but the emotions that you experience as a caregiver play a part in how stressed you feel and how you manage that stress. When you’re experiencing emotions that make you feel terrible, that terrible feeling spreads further. If you can work through those negative feelings, you can help to reduce your own stress.
Identify What You’re Feeling
So the first step is to get a handle on what you’re feeling. You might be sad about your senior’s situation or feel guilty that you can’t do more. You might feel isolated and lonely because caregiving can be so solitary. If you’re having a tough time narrowing down what you’re feeling, start keeping a journal. You can gain a lot of clarity through writing.
Change What You Can Change
Once you know what you’re feeling, you’ll start to get some good ideas why you’re feeling that way. There may be some situations in which you can see immediately some things you can change. For instance, if you’re not taking time away from caregiving, that is something that you can change. Hiring elderly care providers gives you a backup so that you can do what you need to do.
Surround Yourself with Supportive People
You can do more to manage your emotions, particularly the ones that contribute to your stress levels, when you’ve got a support network around you. Many of the people who form your immediate support system are going to be family members and friends. Some may also be other people who understand what it’s like to be a caregiver. You might meet them through support group meetings or in other situations. The key here is to establish and to maintain that support network for yourself.
Maintain Your Sense of Humor
A lot of your life is going to be easier to manage if you’re able to maintain your sense of humor. Caregiving in particular can benefit from your use of humor as a coping mechanism. Try to find ways to laugh as often as you can.
As you get better at managing your emotions, especially the really big ones that tend to show up in caregiving situations, you might find that it’s much easier to control your stress levels, too. These are skills that can go a long way toward helping you to have the experience that you want to have.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional Elderly Care Services in Warren NJ, please talk to the caring staff at Generations Home Health Care today. Providing Home Care in Somerset, Essex, Union, Morris and Hunterdon Counties. Call us today at (908) 290-0691 or (973) 241-4534.
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