Finding ways to reduce caregiver stress will help lessen the long-term emotional and physical toll. Tips for managing stress include:
Do:
Connect with others (have a support system).
Reduce caffeine and sugar.
Find something to do just for yourself on a regular basis. Keep a journal to refer back to in between events.
Manage your time.
Delegate tasks
Stop smoking
Relax--use exercise, aroma therapy, deep breathing or anything similar that may help.
Know the warning signs that your patient may experience.
Keep a positive attitude. Believe in yourself.
Accept that there are events you cannot control.
Be assertive instead of aggressive. "Assert" your feelings, opinions, or beliefs instead of becoming angry, combative, or passive.
Exercise regularly. Your body can fight stress better when it is fit.
Limit yourself to moderate alcohol and caffeine intake.
Set realistic goals and expectations.
Get enough rest and sleep. Your body needs time to recover from stressful events.
Learn to use stress management techniques and coping mechanisms, such as deep breathing or guided imagery.
Don't:
Self medicate--Don't rely on alcohol or drugs to reduce stress.
Try to control events or other people.
Read too much into your love-ones emotional outbursts-they may be related to the disease and not meant to be personal.
Put up with psychological abuse. See also the previous topic.
Put up with ANY physical abuse ANYTIME.
Relaxation Techniques
Most people don't have a plan for coping with caregiver stress. Fortunately,
there are a number of relaxation techniques and coping mechanisms that you can
use to help deal with stress, such as:
Two-minute relaxation Switch your thoughts to yourself and your
breathing. Take a few deep breaths, exhaling slowly. Mentally scan your body.
Notice areas that feel tense or cramped. Quickly loosen up these areas. Let go
of as much tension as you can. Rotate your head in a smooth, circular motion
once or twice. (Stop any movements that cause pain.) Roll your shoulders
forward and backward several times. Let all of your muscles completely relax.
Recall a pleasant thought for a few seconds. Take another deep breath and
exhale slowly. You should feel relaxed.
Mind relaxation Close your eyes. Breathe normally through your
nose. As you exhale, silently say to yourself the word "one," a short word such
as "peaceful," or a short phrase such as "I feel quiet." Continue for 10
minutes. If your mind wanders, gently remind yourself to think about your
breathing and your chosen word or phrase. Let your breathing become slow and
steady.
Deep breathing relaxation Imagine a spot just below your navel.
Breathe into that spot, and fill your abdomen with air. Let the air fill you
from the abdomen up, then let it out, like deflating a balloon. With every
long, slow breath out, you should feel more relaxed.
Guided imagery Guided imagery is a meditative technique that
involves focusing on a particular sensory image to create a specific physical
reaction. Guided imagery (also called guided meditation) is a form of mind-body
therapy that can bring about deep relaxation and positive focus, the state of
mind and body most conducive to healing. Guided imagery also can be used to
release tension, anxiety, and stress.
Biofeedback Biofeedback helps a person learn stress-reduction
skills by providing precise, immediate information about muscle tension, heart
rate, and other vital signs as a person attempts to relax. It is used to learn
total body relaxation and also to gain control over certain physiological
functions that cause tension and physical pain.
Behavioral changes Changing certain thought patterns and behaviors
can help you better manage difficult situations and stress. Examples include
checking your assumptions, sharing your expectations with others, being
assertive, exercising and eating healthy, focusing on positive relationships,
forgiving, communicating feelings, listening, and rewarding yourself and
others.
By recognizing your warning signs and taking steps to reduce the stress in
your life, you should be able to cope more easily with the pressures of being a
caregiver.