Being a carer comes with its own personal challenges. Supporting someone else, especially a loved one, can be both rewarding and demanding. It's okay to feel frustrated, stressed and over-burdened. There is no guilt or shame in that. However, it is very important to pay attention to these feelings and seek help. Here are some tips for you, as a young adult carer, to look after your mental health.
Time for yourself isn't selfish
Taking care of someone else, round the clock also means overlooking your own needs. Being able to balance your needs amidst other responsibilities is even better. Taking some alone time, asking someone else to assist you with the care, spending time on yourself and talking about how tough things are on you is totally okay.
Eat, sleep, hydrate and rest
It may seem trivial, but good physical health is a great start to good mental health. As a young adult carer, you need to make sure you are eating enough and keeping hydrated throughout the day. Take time to do things you enjoy, whether that's spending time with friends, reading or listening to music. Most importantly, get your 8 hours of sleep. Rest up whenever you can!
Relax
It may seem easy, but for a carer, relaxing can give you anxiety. Being on the lookout for a loved one at all times can leave you very anxious when you try to relax and get your mind off things. It may even seem wrong at times. However, there are guided meditations that can help with relaxation. CAMHS also recommends good breathing exercises to energise and detox.
Know your worth
Supporting someone else is not a small task. It takes a lot of resilience, commitment and strength. Unfortunately, a lot of young cares fail to see that. Embrace the compliments and gratitude you receive for taking care of someone. Go out there and do your research on young carer programs that can assist you. Learning about them will help you realise what an important role you are playing. It is really good for your self-confidence to remind yourself that even the little tasks you do for someone can be a day-changer for those around you.
Do things you enjoy
Always make sure you take time for yourself and do things you enjoy. It should be something that excites and energises you while giving you peace and happiness. Spend time with yourself to figure out what excites you the most. It may be painting, drawing, reading, or watching your favourite TV show in the comfort of your own bed. To do that, you have to learn how to prioritise yourself. It's high time to concentrate on both your wants and your needs. Doing things you enjoy is extremely beneficial to your mental health.
To take care of yourself and others, you don’t need to make big changes. The little things you do to pamper yourself can have a big impact on your mental well-being. We all have to start somewhere, let's start small.
