Taking Care of Yourself as a Caregiver Means Avoiding ‘Coping’ Medicines
Harry was working two jobs, one of them overtime most weeks, and was tasked with being a caregiver for his aging father. His father was struggling with lung cancer, the result of many years of smoking, and even though some other members of the family refused to step in and help, Harry was going to do whatever he could to help out.
For many years, Harry spent his free time at local bars and pubs. He made a lot of friends and spent a lot of money on alcohol. He went through rehab at one point to help him break free from the alcohol that had been holding him and his life back.
He never thought that he would even consider relapsing or “falling off the wagon.” But within a couple of weeks of taking care of his father, he began to feel the familiar temptation to stop at one of the bars he passed on his way home for “a quick sip.”
He avoided those temptations for several weeks, but the more care that he provided for his father, the more care his father seem to need. This was placing increased pressure on his own life. He was getting into trouble at work because he was showing up late, leaving work early, and being unfocused at times because he wasn’t sleeping nearly as much as he used to and not as much as he needed to.
He didn’t know how to deal with the situation. The stress he was feeling was overwhelming. The more stress he felt, the more anxious he was becoming. He even took to driving the long way home in order to avoid any bars or pubs that he might pass along the way.
Harry was not coping with the stress of being a family caregiver. He had too many other responsibilities in his life and it was taking a toll on him. If you are like Harry and find yourself feeling overwhelmed with providing home care for a loved one, there are plenty of ways that can help you cope with the situation. One of those is not alcohol or drugs.
Whether or not you have had a problem in the past, taking a sip of wine in the evening may help you feel as though you’re relaxing, but it is a dangerous road to travel when you’re doing it for that sole purpose.
Hiring professional home care providers is a much more effective way of coping with the stress of being a caregiver. Having people to rely on, professionals who have experience providing home care for elderly individuals, is the most effective, safest, and healthiest way to deal with the stress of being a family caregiver.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring an in-home caregiver near Murrysville PA, please call and talk to the caring staff at Extended Family Care of Pittsburgh. We will answer all of your questions.
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