CAREGIVER ANGER: 7 WAYS TO KEEP YOUR COOL

STOP – BEFORE YOU BLOW YOUR TOP!

When everyone in the house has gotten up on the wrong side of the bed, you’ve, burnt the toast and forgot to call the doctor’s office to order medication refills and your loved one is moving slower than a snail on a cold day.

Just keep cool and be still for a moment. It’s not the end of the world, and before you become totally unraveled and have a major melt down, let’s take a D- E- E-P breath! - All right, let’s take another one.

CAREGIVERS ARE PEOPLE TOO

Now, I’m sure you don’t need anyone to tell you that being a caregiver is a challenging responsibility that requires resilience, fortitude and endurance. But, just in case this is a new experience for you, take it from me caregiving is hard.

Some days will go smooth and others will be complete chaos. Learning to be flexible when things don’t go your way, adapting changes and keeping in the flow to keep moving ahead is key. As a caregiver, just realize that no one is perfect and we all miss the mark sometime, so, don’t spend time beating yourself up with an “I’m ’ not worthy” guilt trip.

We need to realize and recognize that we are human and will sometimes miss the mark. So, it is important to learn how to deal with feelings of frustration that can lead to depression, that can turn into anger. As someone once said: "Anger is just one letter short of danger! " So below, I’ve listed 7 tips that helped me thru some of my most difficult days

7 TIPS TO DEAL WITH CAREGIVER FRUSTRATION AND ANGER

1-Find soothing music or positive statements that can help you gain your composure.

2-Keep an anger journal – what was it that set you off – fatigue, lack of organization, this way you can see if there are patterns that trigger problems and avoid them

3-Deep breathing – much research has been done on how deep breathing exercises can be calming and relaxing.

4-Take a time out – remember in grade school when your teacher sent you to the corner for misbehaving – it might seem childish but it works.

5-Energy songs – have your favorite tunes to hum – mine were “Tomorrow” from “Annie’ and the theme song from “Rocky’

6-Practice forgiveness – for peace of mind for both yourself and your loved one.

7 -Turn problem situations into opportunities for your own personal growth

THE CAREGIVER’S BILL OF RIGHTS

And last but not least - I realized taking care of myself was not being selfish, but it gave me the strength and capability to better care for my mom. Although, caregiving was a rewarding life experience that I would not trade, I always kept a copy of the “Caregiver’s Bill of Rights” on my wall to uplift and remind me that:

I had to know my own limitations,

It’s okay to ask for help when needed,

It’s alright to have an occasional pity party

Finally, as a caregiver, I found there is a level of compassion that you develop in caring for someone, possibly, through one of the most difficult periods of their lives depending on whether their illness is temporary or terminal. But, just remember you are the guardian at the gate for your loved one, so can’t forget your own self care.

Be Well - Stay Well - Because Caregivers Need Care Too!!

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Coach Gloria

Life Strategies/Wellness Coach & Patient Advocate

Owner: GJ Brown & Associates

Blog: Glo’s Caregiver Wellness Connection

Email: gbrown1gjba@gmail.com

Website: http://gbrown1gjba.wix.com/caregiverwellness