Caregiving 101

There are three types of activities that you are encouraged to do for yourself:

• Activities that involve other people, such as having coffee with a friend.
• Activities that give you a sense of accomplishment, such as finishing a book you have been meaning to read.
• Activities that make you feel good and relaxed, such as watching a funny movie or taking a walk.

• Other than ensuring that your loved one with cancer is eating right and exercising, you too should be maintaining a healthy diet and exercising as frequently as you can.

• It’s normal to feel guilty if you are not able to do something for your loved one, or feel like taking a break. But no one can be a caregiver for 24 hours a day, for seven days a week. So it’s important to know when you are unable to do something, and take a break from your caregiving responsibilities. Sometimes, having that brief respite will enable you to come back stronger and more refreshed in helping your loved one.

It’s normal to feel overwhelmed sometimes by caregiver responsibilities, so don’t be afraid to ask for help. There are a few ways you can approach asking for assistance:

• Seeking help from other loved ones. Be prepared with a list of ways that others can help you, and let the person helping you choose what he or she would like to do. For instance, someone could run your errands for you, pick up your groceries for you, or even take your loved one with cancer for a walk so you have some down time to yourself.
• Seeking help from a support group. Talking with others who are in situations like yours can help ease loneliness. You can also get useful ideas from others that might help you.
• Seek professional help. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed when you are a caregiver. However, if this feeling persists and becomes worse, it is important to seek professional help, as it may lead to depression and other health problems.