19 Nov Tips for coping with caregiver grief
Feeling grief and its related emotions is natural. When caregiving, grief is an extremely important emotion to understand. You may have heard before that there are stages to grieving, and this is often true, but it is also a personal and unique process—everyone grieves differently.
With caregivers, grief can be exceptionally difficult, since often there may be grief over a family member who is still living. Taking care of someone who has extreme memory loss or who is no longer “there” can be confusing and upsetting for caregivers. There may be other types of loss that are grieved by caregivers, as well—such as financial security, a relationship with those you are caring for, a routine and more. Because of all the ways that grief can enter our lives, it’s important to know some ways to help cope with this powerful emotion.
Here are just a few things that can help:
- Write in a journal. Writing down your feelings and experiences can help you understand and process them. Keeping a gratitude journal of all the things you are thankful for can help remind you what is important in your life, even during difficult times.
- Try meditation and breathing exercises. Meditation and breathing exercises are great practices to include in your life. Setting aside time to focus on your breath is important for de-stressing and processing your emotions.
- Stay active with yoga or other relaxation exercises. Exercise is important to help you maintain your overall health. When going through a difficult time, relaxing exercises like yoga can help calm your mind while helping your body.
- Join a support group or talk to others. Talking about your feelings with a support group or others who have gone through similar experiences can help you deal with grief and other difficult emotions.
While grief is not a one-size-fits-all emotion, these tips can help you work through sadness and loss. Caregiving takes an emotional toll, but it’s important for you to remember that the care you provide is invaluable.