Suggestions and information on how to look after yourself

Hi all

When I first became a carer I was guilty as others maybe of putting the person you are looking after first.

My mother was diagnosed with a terminal illness in June 2013. She became very depressed as her diagnosis was Stage 4 cancer. Doctors could only give her quality of life with no chance of remission. My only thoughts were to help her accept her diagnosis and make her life as perfect as I could for her remaining life. I also found myself supporting my daughter, my brother and his wife. My father passed away from cancer 15 years previously so we all knew what to expect.

I was in the final year of a Bachelor of Clinical Science (Psychology), with plans of progressing to Honors in Psychology. These plans were put on hold indefinately. After discussion with one of my psychology tutors they suggested that talking to a psychologist could be helpful.

I now have a psychologist that I see on a regular basis to talk about what is going on for me, and different options for helping myself eg. meditation, mindfulness practice. I discovered that my feelings were part of a grieving process for the loss of my previous life before I became a carer.

I think that sometimes we forget that when we become a carer our whole life changes and we don't take the time to grieve the life we had before caring.