ChILD can be stressful and demanding. When you are dealign with the needs of your child, especially on an intensive basis with little support, it can be easy to forget about your own needs. Stress is a natural response to challenging circumstances however, if it is prolonged and you are finding that your mood is changing or have unexplained physical symptoms, please visit your GP or seek professional advice. Please find some basic tips to help yourself keep stress at bay.
It can’t be stressed enough how important you are. Please put your physical needs first by:
- Eating nutritious meals
- Resisting temptation for overindulging in sweets and alcohol
- Sleep when you can: if you are finding sleeping at night difficult, try napping during the day
- Don’t miss out on your own medical appointments
- Exercise: this has so many benefits to you physically and mentally
- Consider counselling therapy: this is especially needed if you experiencing symptoms of depression (extreme sadness, trouble concentrating, apathy, hopelessness, thoughts about death)
ChILD can be isolating; this increases the risk of stress and depression. Getting together regularly with friends and relatives can keep negative emotions at bay. Also, social media can be useful for a quick fix but it cannot beat face to face contact.
This can be especially difficult if you have never needed support before. You may find that friends and family will want to help and feel useful. Make a list of things you have to do and ask others to pitch in. For some of the care aspects of chILD training can be given so enable you to have a break. This is where you can book that yoga class, go for a coffee, or run errands. You deserve it!
Depending on the severity of your child’s condition, in some areas of the UK respite or home help services may be available. Other services you may wish to enquire about are local play groups for children with additional needs (they tend to be smaller groups that consider aspects such as cross infection or include play therapists)
With the demands on caring for a child with chILD, emotions can get bottled up. Emotions takes a toll on your psyche and your physical well-being. Share feelings of frustration with your spouse, friends and family. If you are struggling, please make an appointment with your GP or professional counsellor.
Just by doing something you enjoy, such as reading, walking or listening to music, can recharge your batteries. You may want to consider meditation and/or mindfulness, or deep breathing. If you are religious, then seeking comfort within your faith and prayer may be a great source of comfort.
Investing in simple tools like calendars and to-do lists can help you prioritize your responsibilities and appointments. Smartphone calendars and apps can be a great alternative to the traditional diary as they can give you ‘pop up’ reminders.
Being a chILD caregiver means you automatically qualify for a superhero cape. But at the same time not even superhero’s can do everything at once. It may be tempting, but try to resist the urge to take on more activities, projects or financial obligations than you can handle. If someone asks you to do something that will stretch you too thin, explain honestly why you can’t — and don’t feel guilty!
Instead of dwelling on what you can’t do, feel pride on what you can do and what you are doing for your family. Focusing on the rewards of caring for someone you love and seeing them develop is pretty powerful. Also, do your best to avoid negativity. Conflict arises within many aspects of our lives with family, friends or in your professional life. Try to get things resolved quickly (with mediation if needed) and without drama as this can zap your energy and make you feel bad.