Caring for a friend or family member can be a rewarding and challenging experience. Many caregivers will attend to the needs of others before their own needs. While this may be a short-term solution, it includes many long-term effects. Self-care is an essential part of staying healthy. As a care-giver, it is important to incorporate self-care regularly into your daily routine to remain effective. People who neglect self-care report sleep deprivation, poor eating habits, lack of exercise, excessive stress and irritability, signs of depression, persistent anger or guilt, relationship conflicts and social isolation.
Self-care balances the effects of emotional and physical stress, which people face on a daily basis. It is therefore important to schedule self-care daily. This may necessitate writing ”me” time in a planner or setting an alarm on your phone. Getting enough sleep, practicing yoga or meditation, eating healthy, socializing with friends, relaxing with leisure activities, enjoying date night, or participating in sports or hobbies are all effective ways to relieve stress. Better care for you leads to better care for others. Other positive steps toward self-care include being assertive with friends and family about your needs, and talking with others who can help. Realize that you are not alone, and it is reasonable to ask for help.
One way that you can connect with other parents is through our Parent Training Group to Defeat Anxiety and OCD. OCD and Anxiety rarely influence just the individual without affecting other family members and negatively impacting the quality of family life. In an attempt to alleviate a child’s distress, parents often get trapped in the vicious OCD/Anxiety cycle. Both the individual with OCD/Anxiety and family members frequently feel confused, anxious, and guilty. OCD/Anxiety sufferers may react in distress or anger if family members don’t accommodate their needs, while family members may have trouble being supportive without enabling the condition. This support group helps parents and family members establish boundaries, so they can be supportive of the sufferer without accommodating his/her OCD/Anxiety. Attention is focused on building effective strategies to manage frustration and anxiety, while providing a supportive environment for parents and other family members as they help their child battle OCD/Anxiety. This support group is free and open to all parents and family members. It runs every Saturday from 10:00am – 11:15am at the Renewed Freedom Center.
For further information or to RSVP to the group, please contact JenniferLynch@RenewedFreedomCenter.com
