Aaging Better

Managing stress is all about taking charge.  Take charge of your thoughts, your emotions, your schedule, your environment, and the way you deal with problems.  Stress management involves changing the stressful situation when it’s possible and changing reactions to stressful situations when it’s not, staying healthy, and making time for rest and relaxation.

Even if the stress in your life is out of your control, you can control your response to stress and how much it affects you.  Relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation, and deep breathing activate the body’s relaxation response, a state of restfulness that is the opposite of the stress response.  When practiced regularly, these activities lead to a reduction in everyday stress levels and a boost in feelings of joy and serenity.  They also increase the ability to stay calm and collected under pressure.

It’s worth repeating that a strong support network is always the greatest protection against anxiety and nervous tension.

Finally, consider these “Ten Tips for Family Caregivers” from the website,  TheFamilyCaregiver.org:

1. Caregiving is a job, and respite is an earned right.  Reward yourself with respite breaks often.
2. Watch out for signs of depression, and don’t delay in getting professional help when you need it.
3. When people offer their help, accept the offer and suggest specific things that they can do.
4. Educate yourself about your loved one’s condition and how to communicate with doctors.
5. There’s a difference between caring and doing.
6. Be open to technologies and ideas that promote your loved one’s independence.
7. Trust your instincts—most of the time they’ll lead you in the right direction.
8. Caregivers often do a lot of lifting, pushing, and pulling—so protect your back!
9. Grieve for your losses, and then allow yourself to dream new dreams.
10. Seek support from other caregivers.  There is great strength in knowing you are not alone.

To learn more about how agencies such as ours can help with support networks to provide “respite” care for family caregivers, contact us online or call us at (208) 777-0308 in the Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls or Hayden areas, (208) 263-7889 in the Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry or Priest River areas, or (208) 784-1505 in the Kellogg, Wallace or Pinehurst areas.