5 Caregiving Facts We Tend to Underestimate
No one wants to think about the sad truth of life: Loved ones getting sick.
No one is immune to different kinds of disease and sickness. Unfortunately, this includes our family and friends.
When this happens, as the closest people, we want to help and support our loved ones to heal and get healthy again. Even though we may not talk about it, this can be an extremely challenging and draining job to do.
If you are a caregiver for someone you love, and you find yourself struggling as a result of this, you are not alone. We tend to feel awful when we complain about taking care of a loved one. The truth is, it’s never easy to see a loved one deteriorate physically let alone supporting them emotionally.
1- Caregiving can be emotionally challenging
It’s hard to admit this fact. It can make you even feel guilty, but caregiving can be emotionally challenging. On one hand, someone you deeply love is struggling, on the other hand, your physical attention and emotional understanding are needed.
When caregiving to someone you love, it’s normal and expected to go through a range of emotions. Guilt, sadness, depression, anxiety, exhaustion, or blame are just a few of them.
Even when you try to enjoy yourself, you may find that your mind is still focused on the person you are taking care of, or worried about all the tasks that need to be done when you get back.
In other words, emotionally, caregiving doesn’t end when the physical work ends. It tends to be a 24/7 kind of labor that continues.
2- Caregiving can expensive
Whether you are the main caregiver, you receive help from another caregiver or you get the help of caregiving facilities; caregiving can be really expensive. Oftentimes, caregivers find themselves spending the majority of their income on tending to their loved ones.
Between doctor visits, required tools and medical devices, in-home services, and other fundamental needs such as cleaning, food, and shelter; it’s difficult to handle all expenses of caregiving to someone you love.
It’s important to seek help from other resources in order not to find yourself in an extremely stressful situation that deteriorates you as well!
Caregiving can be more emotionally demanding than you think!
3- Caregiving can be emotionally triggering
No one can prepare you for the fact that there could be lots of triggering words, conversations, and situations between you and your loved one when you are caregiving.
Think about it. Many of us already have issues in our relationships with parents, spouses, or kids. It’s somewhat more manageable when we can distance ourselves from these relationships at times. But what happens when you have to be the caregiver for one of these loved ones?
Sometimes things from the past can resurface or even simple topics can trigger lots of emotions internally. The worst part is, to avoid stressing the person, we may end up suppressing emotions within.
Be prepared -as much as you can!-, and know that it’s absolutely normal to be triggered while you are caregiving to someone you love!
4- Caregiving is different for everyone
Caregiving can be a completely different experience for every person. Some people can be already used to tending to others while some people can’t even handle one day of caregiving. Both would be very much normal and expected responses.
When people share their caregiving experience with you, keep this in mind. Remember that what they are sharing with you is just their experience and things can be completely different for you.
Additionally, often times when siblings have to take care of parents, there tends to be a common problem: one sibling doing more than the others. This can also be because of the fact that everyone handles caregiving differently.
5- Caregiving can be draining
Overall, caregiving can be draining physically and emotionally. At times it could feel like taking care of a child but more emotionally challenging. You may find yourself emotionally overwhelmed while having to still keep going to provide the best that you can.
Remember, it’s okay to ask for help from others. Asking for help doesn’t mean that you don’t want to care for this person or doesn’t mean that you are complaining. It simply means that you have more than you can handle on your hands.
Final Words
Caregiving is definitely not an easy task to take on. No matter what others say, nothing can prepare you for the way your caregiving journey will unfold. Meanwhile, don’t forget your own needs and care. Recognize that you cannot pour from an empty glass.