Mental health articles

The mental health of carers
Carers can experience all types of distressing emotions:
• anger at the sick person for having made life difficult;
• guilt because of negative thoughts about the sick person;
• sadness to see a loved one suffer;
• fear of catching the disease from the sick person;
• hopelessness about the future for the sick person and themselves;
• frustration at finding that, no matter what they do, the sickness remains.
These emotions are common in all carers, especially during the earlier days of caring. However, most carers cope admirably well in the long term. Love for the sick person, receiving practical help from others, talking about feelings with friends and family, and finding time to enjoy personal
pleasures are some of the ways in which carers cope. Some, however, do not cope as well. Their negative feelings can get worse with time and the carer may begin to feel depressed and anxious.

 

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Tags: carers, Health, mental, Mental health