When you’re feeling the stress of caregiving, you might not know what exactly to do. Having some solid ideas gives you something you can reach for when you’re deep in the midst of those feelings.

Focus on What You Can Do Right Now

As soon as you know that you’re feeling stressed, stop and look at what you can do right now. If it’s a situation that you can’t change or solve with any actions, what you can do right now might be simply managing your reaction as well as your senior’s. If the situation is one that you can take action on right now, identify that next step. Keep your focus on the next step and what you can actually do.

Take up Offers of Help

It’s really difficult to ask for help, even if you and your senior really need it. It’s a lot easier for you to accept help when other people offer it. All you have to do is say yes when people ask if they can help you in some way. When you do that more often, the weird feeling that can accompany accepting help starts to fade. It’s also a way to ease the load you’re carrying as the primary caregiver.

Reach out to Someone Who Knows Caregiving

When you’re stressed, it helps to talk to someone who understands what it’s like to be a caregiver. If you’re a member of a support group for caregivers, talk about what you’re feeling at a meeting and ask if anyone has advice. You might find that people are very willing to help you and lend you their ear for support, even if they don’t know you well.

Put an Action Plan in Motion

Stress tends to show up because you’re seeing something that isn’t working well or properly and you don’t know how to deal with it. But once you start to put some action in place, any type of action, you can reduce your stress levels immensely. Assess what your next step is and do what you can to take that next step.

Stress can cause you to freeze up, which is a dangerous situation if you’re a caregiver. Much of caregiving involves taking the next right actions that lead to the right result for your aging adult and for you. Do what you can to plan for the situations that might cause stress for you and then quickly put those plans into effect.

If you or an aging loved one are considering caregivers in Fairfax, VA, please contact the caring staff at Assisting Hands today. (703) 982-0050.