Look after your mental health from day one as a carer
People become carers in different ways. Sometimes someone becomes ill suddenly, or is injured. For other people, it may be a gradual thing – helping out with extra responsibilities until one day you may become a full time carer.
One thing that is really important however you become a carer is protecting your own mental health right from the beginning.
This month we are focusing on mental health awareness, and in particular how carers can look after their mental health in the role. In this blog we will be setting out some steps and mindset shifts you can make to make sure your own wellbeing is part of your caring role.
A key mindset shift at first is to recognise that life has changed. Give yourself permission to acknowledge that you taking on this role has affected your day to day life. This will help you to cope when difficult emotions come up.
Secondly, don’t wait until you are in a crisis to reach out for help. Keep talking to your friends and family, join a support group, or even talk to a professional if you think that you are struggling. Feeling understood and less isolated can help reduce stress and remind you that you are not carrying everything alone.
Another practical tip is to protect small moments in your routine. As a carer, you may be skipping meals or eating at different times, you may not be sleeping well, you might have let go of all of your favourite activities. You might feel like you have no time to yourself.
Think about some small moments in your day that you can keep doing to keep you anchored in your own life. This would be taking a short walk every morning, having a proper lunch break, reading before bed, catching up with a friend every week or even a little bit of exercise. These small moments will help your brain and body recover from stress and create a sense of normality during uncertain periods.
We have been focusing on carer burnout this month. It’s a good idea to know what the signs of burnout could be so you can recognise it and take action. Some early warning signs include feeling exhausted all the time, becoming more irritable than usual, not sleeping, feeling demotivated to do anything and withdrawing from friends and family.
Burnout does not mean you are a bad carer, it means you have been carrying too much for too long without enough support.
Lastly, we know that carers put a lot of pressure on themselves to be “perfect” or to have everything sorted and everything going right. In reality, there is no such thing as perfect. You are a human who has good and bad days and highs and lows. Don’t put pressure on yourself to always have a good day. Just know that the emotions you may feel on a bad day will pass and you are doing the best you can.
Reminder: don’t wait until you are completely depleted before taking care of yourself. Looking after your mental health from day one can help prevent long-term stress, improve resilience, and make the caring journey more manageable over time.
For more information about North Tyneside Carers Centre visit our website or contact us using the details below.
0191 2496480