Caring for a parent isn’t always easy. You may have fantastic days. Other days, your parents are especially argumentative. If you’re trying your hardest and also have the stress of a full-time job, second household, and other responsibilities to meet, the stress builds up. If you don’t have anyone else helping, the stress may build up faster than expected.

Unfortunately, people often believe a few things about this stress that are not true. Make sure you understand the realities of stress and takes steps to manage it.

Stress Goes Away Over Time

Some people believe that if you ignore the stress you’re feeling, it will give up and go away. That’s not the case. Stress keeps building up and can cause new health issues like insomnia, panic attacks, mood disorders, and heart disease.

Stress is in Your Head

This is a common belief. The stress is all in your head. If you stop thinking that you’re stressed, you won’t be. That’s not the case. It’s not mind over matter in this case. Depression and anxiety may appear if the stress goes unmanaged. The sooner the stress is managed, the better it is for your mental health.

Everyone Is Stressed

People do experience stress, but it’s like a fingerprint, no two cases are identical. The stress you experience caring for your parents may be a world different from the stress a friend feels during a job performance meeting. Your stress is constant, which makes it different. Plus, your brain and body may not process the stress the same way as someone else.

Stress is Beneficial

Some stress can help you. If you become stressed before a job interview, it can give you that adrenaline boost you need to do the best. If the stress is constant and impacts your mood and ability to function, it’s not beneficial. Unmanaged stress can raise your blood pressure, cause you to overeat, or develop into anxiety attacks that cause a rapid heart rate, insomnia, and hyperventilation.

There’s No Way to Treat Stress

You can’t stop stress from happening, but you can learn techniques to reduce its effects. You can learn breathing techniques to help ease the stress. You may need medications if your stress is causing anxiety or depression.

Learning what triggers your stress helps. You may need to master positive self-talk. Deep breathing, yoga, and Tai Chi can also reduce stress and help you overcome the bad days without needing medications.

Taking time for self-care is an essential part of treating stress. If you don’t have others who can help you step away from your parents, hire professional caregivers. They’ll take over while you get out and de-stress.

If you or an aging loved one is considering caregivers in Dulles, VA, please contact the caring staff at Assisting Hands today. (703) 782-3655.