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How are your stress levels?
Stress can affect us both emotionally and physically. You may find these questions useful in assessing your current stress levels and in coming up with some activities and ideas which may help you reduce the stress in your life:Can you recognise the warning signs?
Do you ever feel:
- Irritable for no reason
- Overwhelmed by simple tasks
- Panicky or breathless
- Over-anxious or tearful
- Moody
-
Violent towards the person you care for, or towards other people, or even things
And if so, how often?
- Often
- Sometimes
- Rarely
Do you suffer from?
- Indigestion or an upset stomach or bowels
- Sleeplessness
- Rashes or allergies
- Forgetfulness
- Difficulty in concentrating
- Restlessness
- Nightmares
Try asking yourself these questions from time to time - they may help you consider what could be changed in order to gain some personal support.
- How do you feel about asking other people to help?
- How did you become a carer?
- Do you share the care, or does one person have all the responsibility? What about other members of the familiy? Are their experiences similar to your own?
- How much of your life is taken up by caring?
What can you do to reduce stress?
Many people have found it useful to consider the following questions:- What can I do? (see below for some suggestions)
- When will I start?
- How often will I do it?
Don't be too ambitious at first. Set yourself achievable targets.
Some ideas which might be relevant to you:
- Take a walk alone or with a friend or family member
- Go to bed 30 minutes earlier at night
- Rent a movie that makes you laugh or comforts you
- Write in a journal (don't forget to record the good things that happen to you as well as the bad)
- Meditate or pray
- Practice deep breathing exercises and meditation
- Have a haircut or a therapeutic massage
- Exercise
- Talk with a friend
- Take a bath
- Deal with only one thing at a time, focusing on only the present
- Put on some music you like.
You can get more information from:
Princess Royal trust for carers - managing stress - National information about dealing with stress from The Princes Royal Trust for Carers
There are peope who can help
West Sussex Carers Support Services (formerly West Sussex Carers Network)
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You can use this facility to search the Carers Online database for organisations in West Sussex that may be able to help you.
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