Caring health centre

Feel good, care better

Becoming a carer can give you a sense of purpose and be immensely rewarding and fulfilling. But there will be times when you feel stressed, frustrated or isolated, and you may experience anxiety or depression. Like many carers, your natural instinct may be to put your own needs last, but maintaining your mental wellbeing is important both for you and the person you care for.

Here are our tips for staying on top form:

Stay connected

Being a carer can add an extra dimension to your life, but it doesn’t mean the rest of your life should be put on hold. Keeping your social life going does take effort, but it’s the best way to prevent feelings of isolation. Is there a friend or family member who can sit with the person you care for once a week while you go to a friend’s house, or meet for a drink at your local? If there are weeks when this can’t happen, try to get some outside contact through email or telephone conversation.

It’s good to talk

Is there someone you can trust, such as a friend, colleague or neighbour to talk to about your feelings and frustrations? Even a ten-minute chat over a cup of tea can make a difference to your day, and can help you get a sense of perspective when you’re feeling down. Many carers find the friendship and support of other carers, via chat rooms and message boards, invaluable. But sometimes, you need a little more, and a course of professional counselling can help you make sense of your life as a carer, or get through a difficult time. Your GP can recommend a qualified counsellor.

Laugh every day

Many carers say that what gets them through difficult times is keeping a sense of humour. Laughter is also good for your health, reducing your risk of heart disease and boosting your immune system. So rather than watching the news to relax, you might be better off choosing a comedy channel. Sharing a joke with the person you care for is good for them, too.

Give up guilt

Caring can be very challenging and there will be times when feel you’re not doing it as well as you can. It’s easy to focus on what you feel you’re failing at, while overlooking all your positive achievements. But you also need to accept your limitations - no one can be everything to everyone. Feeling guilty is often a sign that you need a break. If you don’t have friends and family who can give you regular support, contact a voluntary organisation. They can offer help for carers at a time to suit you, provided by the same volunteer each time where possible, to allow trust and a relationship to build up between the volunteer and the person you care for.