Help for Carers > Personal support for carers > Your health > How are your stress levels?

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
• Moody
• Overwhelmed by simple tasks
• Panicky or breathless
• Over-anxious or tearful
• 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?

• Difficulty in concentrating
• Forgetfulness
• Indigestion or an upset stomach or bowels
• Nightmares
• Rashes or allergies
• Restlessness
• Sleeplessness

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.

• Do you realise you are stressed? Something has to be causing your stress, so think hard about what is affecting you.
• What can you do to change the situation? Once you have identified the cause, you can try to change it.
• How much impact does it have on you? Many people get stressed over issues that do not directly affect them. Take a step back from the situation and look at the problem. Talk to your family or a friend - they may look at the problem differently and find an alternative solution.
• 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:

• Deal with just one thing at a time
• Exercise
• Go to bed 30 minutes earlier at night
• Have a haircut or a therapeutic massage
• Meditate or pray
• Practice deep breathing exercises and meditation
• Put on some music you like
• Rent a movie that makes you laugh or comforts you
• Take a bath
• Take a walk alone or with a friend or family member
• Talk with a friend
• Write in a journal (don't forget to record the good things that happen to you as well as the bad).

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

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