{"id":2771,"date":"2018-03-26T16:07:51","date_gmt":"2018-03-26T20:07:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/?page_id=2771"},"modified":"2018-05-18T10:32:36","modified_gmt":"2018-05-18T14:32:36","slug":"emotional-concerns-for-care-partners","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/patient-support\/care-partners\/emotional-concerns-for-care-partners\/","title":{"rendered":"Emotional concerns for care partners"},"content":{"rendered":"

Caring for another person is the most difficult responsibility you will ever have. While there are many rewards, there are also sacrifices, and demands on your time and energy will be great.<\/p>\n

Because caregiving can be overwhelming, it\u2019s important to know your limits. It\u2019s often difficult to know how long you\u2019ll need to provide care, or if your job will become more demanding over time. This job doesn\u2019t come with a job description!<\/p>\n

Caring for your own needs is as important as taking care of the other person. If you are sick, or if you become physically or mentally exhausted, you can\u2019t care for someone else.<\/p>\n

Common feelings<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

It\u2019s normal for care partners to feel sad or discouraged from time to time. Ignoring these feelings won\u2019t make them go away; it may even make them grow stronger. If you feel sad, include some pleasant activities in your daily schedule.<\/p>\n

It can lift your spirits to listen to favorite music, spend a few moments enjoying the garden, or talk on the phone with a supportive friend.<\/p>\n

If you\u00a0feel discouraged<\/strong>, take one day at a time. Try to stay flexible and accept the things you can\u2019t change.<\/p>\n

If you\u00a0feel afraid<\/strong>, talk to someone about the worst thing that could happen and plan what you would do. Planning for the future will help reduce your fears about the \u201cwhat ifs?\u201d<\/p>\n

If you\u00a0feel angry<\/strong>, take a break and leave the situation if possible. A quick walk can help defuse your feelings. If you can\u2019t leave, stop and take a few deep deliberate breaths. It really does help! Focus your anger on the condition, not the person you care for. What can you do?<\/p>\n

If you\u00a0feel guilty<\/strong>, give yourself credit for what you do well. Be realistic about what\u2019s possible and what isn\u2019t. Focus on one thing you want to do better, and be specific. \u201cIf only I could make her eat\u201d won\u2019t be as helpful as \u201cI will slow down and make mealtimes more pleasant.\u201d<\/p>\n

Take care of yourself<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Talk to someone who can help you look at things more objectively: perhaps a friend, a fellow caregiver, or a professional counselor.<\/p>\n

Keep yourself physically and mentally healthy. Make sure you eat a healthy diet and get some form of exercise as often as possible. A brisk walk is a sure way to relieve stress.<\/p>\n

Be honest with friends and family about your needs. If someone asks how they can help, don\u2019t be polite! Tell them what you could use help with.<\/p>\n

Take a break. Schedule time away on a regular basis. To maintain your own emotional and physical health it is absolutely necessary to get relief from your caregiving role.<\/p>\n

Get enough rest. If the person is awake at night and it\u2019s impossible for you to get a full night\u2019s sleep, you may need to consider in-home help during the night or an overnight respite stay. Lack of sleep for the caregiver is one of the most common reasons someone enters a nursing home.<\/p>\n

Eat well. A good diet will give you more energy. Even one diet improvement can make a big difference over a year\u2019s time.<\/p>\n

Protect yourself against infection. Wear disposable latex gloves if you will have contact with a body fluid.<\/p>\n

Be kind to yourself. Give yourself credit for the things you do well. Treat yourself to a small present when you\u2019re feeling low. Take time for a long, hot bath.<\/p>\n

Exercise. In as little as 10 minutes a day, and as few as three days a week, the right exercise will help you feel better, sleep better, reduce stress, and enjoy life more for you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Caring for another person is the most difficult responsibility you will ever have. While there are many rewards, there are also sacrifices, and demands on your time and energy will…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":274,"menu_order":197,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2771","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nEmotional concerns for care partners - The Myositis Association<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Caring for another person is the most difficult responsibility you will ever have. Connect with common feelings and get tips on taking care of yourself, too.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/patient-support\/care-partners\/emotional-concerns-for-care-partners\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Emotional concerns for care partners - The Myositis Association\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Caring for another person is the most difficult responsibility you will ever have. Connect with common feelings and get tips on taking care of yourself, too.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/patient-support\/care-partners\/emotional-concerns-for-care-partners\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Myositis Association\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Myositis\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2018-05-18T14:32:36+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@themyositisassc\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/patient-support\/care-partners\/emotional-concerns-for-care-partners\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/patient-support\/care-partners\/emotional-concerns-for-care-partners\/\",\"name\":\"Emotional concerns for care partners - The Myositis Association\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2018-03-26T20:07:51+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2018-05-18T14:32:36+00:00\",\"description\":\"Caring for another person is the most difficult responsibility you will ever have. Connect with common feelings and get tips on taking care of yourself, too.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/patient-support\/care-partners\/emotional-concerns-for-care-partners\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/patient-support\/care-partners\/emotional-concerns-for-care-partners\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/patient-support\/care-partners\/emotional-concerns-for-care-partners\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Patient and Care Partner Support\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/patient-support\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Care Partners\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/patient-support\/care-partners\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":4,\"name\":\"Emotional concerns for care partners\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/\",\"name\":\"The Myositis Association\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/#organization\",\"name\":\"The Myositis Association\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/site-icon.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/site-icon.png\",\"width\":\"512\",\"height\":\"512\",\"caption\":\"The Myositis Association\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Myositis\/\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/themyositisassc\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/MyositisAssociation\"]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Emotional concerns for care partners - The Myositis Association","description":"Caring for another person is the most difficult responsibility you will ever have. Connect with common feelings and get tips on taking care of yourself, too.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/patient-support\/care-partners\/emotional-concerns-for-care-partners\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Emotional concerns for care partners - The Myositis Association","og_description":"Caring for another person is the most difficult responsibility you will ever have. Connect with common feelings and get tips on taking care of yourself, too.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/patient-support\/care-partners\/emotional-concerns-for-care-partners\/","og_site_name":"The Myositis Association","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Myositis\/","article_modified_time":"2018-05-18T14:32:36+00:00","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_site":"@themyositisassc","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/patient-support\/care-partners\/emotional-concerns-for-care-partners\/","url":"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/patient-support\/care-partners\/emotional-concerns-for-care-partners\/","name":"Emotional concerns for care partners - The Myositis Association","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/#website"},"datePublished":"2018-03-26T20:07:51+00:00","dateModified":"2018-05-18T14:32:36+00:00","description":"Caring for another person is the most difficult responsibility you will ever have. Connect with common feelings and get tips on taking care of yourself, too.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/patient-support\/care-partners\/emotional-concerns-for-care-partners\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/patient-support\/care-partners\/emotional-concerns-for-care-partners\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/patient-support\/care-partners\/emotional-concerns-for-care-partners\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Patient and Care Partner Support","item":"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/patient-support\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Care Partners","item":"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/patient-support\/care-partners\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Emotional concerns for care partners"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/","name":"The Myositis Association","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/#organization","name":"The Myositis Association","url":"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/site-icon.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/site-icon.png","width":"512","height":"512","caption":"The Myositis Association"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Myositis\/","https:\/\/x.com\/themyositisassc","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/MyositisAssociation"]}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2771","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2771"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2771\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/274"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myositis.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2771"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}