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Eleanor’s guidebook for caregivers is quite clear on how caregiving is an emotional ride; as such, it is important for caregivers to learn how to cope.

It is a worthwhile thing to be a caregiver, but it’s not without its myriad of challenges. There are financial troubles, interpersonal friction, and then there is the psychological and emotional burden—which we don’t really talk about.

Being a caregiver, you find yourself in a river of love and care. When you are a caregiver, you are the first in line to weather the storm. But that drains people physically, mentally, and emotionally. Caregiving is an emotional ride and a psychological rollercoaster.

In this article, we will be talking about the primary emotions that caregivers feel, the strategies to cope with them, and how to develop a sturdier and more robust spirit to take care of one’s own well-being.

The Ups and Downs of Caregiving 

Caregiving is a veritable rollercoaster of emotions. From stress, anger, and sadness to guilt and resentment, caregivers experience a wide range of emotions while providing care for their patients and loved ones.

Sometimes, we think that it’s good to keep things inside ourselves and not acknowledge them, but it’s crucial for caregivers to acknowledge and address their emotions in healthy ways. This is to avoid burnout and ensure they can provide the best possible care. By seeking support and practicing self-care, especially with their emotions, caregivers can navigate the emotional challenges of caregiving and find a sense of balance and peace amidst the ups and downs of the journey.

An Emotional Ride

Of course, being that they are also human, caregivers also experience the full gamut of emotions. But there are feelings that pop up more frequently than others. Let’s strap in and go on an emotional ride, examining why these emotions appear more and what caregivers should try to do when faced with them.

Stress

This is common and something that can overwhelm caregivers easily. The demands of caregiving can be extremely stressful. There’s plenty to worry about: their loved one’s health and well-being, finances, etc., and there’s the need to balance caregiving with other responsibilities.

• If you’re overwhelmed, break down tasks into smaller, more manageable steps. Take breaks throughout the day. Ask for help from others. Learn how to relax.

Anger

The thing about anger is that it’s like a fire that’s very hard to put out. At times a caregiver can find themselves with a lot to be angry about: the state of health one’s loved one is in, the lacking support from the broader healthcare system, their personal issues, the community at large, and more. This is especially common for caregivers who either receive too little support or have none at all.

• If you’re feeling angry, take some time to cool down before you say or do anything you might regret—spilled milk is hard to put back in the bottle. Find a healthy way to express your anger and divert into something more productive.

Sadness

Moments of sadness are part and parcel of being a caregiver. You will be seeing a person whose health  is changing, or someone who requires more assistance and patience, or someone whose time is almost up. Grief either swallows you up or makes you numb to it if you don’t approach it in a healthy way.

• If you’re feeling sad, allow yourself to grieve. Let everything pour out of you and take in the pain. Afterwards, find joy.

Resentment

Another quite common emotion that caregivers feel is resentment. Caregivers may resent the time and energy they have to put into caregiving, and they may feel like they are missing out on their own lives. This is normal.

• If you’re resentful, talk to your loved one about your feelings. Set boundaries. Find sources of alternate care and support.

It’s also important to remember that you’re not alone. Millions of people care for loved ones each day. Resources like Eleanor’s guidebook for caregivers are available to help you cope with how an emotional ride caregiving is. One Caregivers Journey is available at Eleanor’s website, www.onecaregiversjourney.com or on Amazon.