Why It's Ok To Look After Yourself
When someone you love has cancer, it can be incredibly difficult to process at first. As time goes on, you may find yourself bending over backwards to support them, taking on the role of cover to make their life easier in any way possible. And that's an amazing, selfless and admirable thing to do. But it's important to remember that you have your own needs too and that you need to take care of yourself along the journey. It might seem impossible, but here are a few things you can do to look after your own health and well-being.
Take Care Of Your Health
Caring for someone with cancer can leave your schedule a little jam-packed, but it's important to make time to meet your own health needs. That's everything from eating well and exercising to attending your own medical appointments. You should also make sure you tell your GP you are a carer, as they will be able to provide you with support and advice. They will also be able to tell you if being a carer makes you eligible for flu and Covid vaccinations in your area, which can be a great help when you're caring for someone with a suppressed immune system.
Talk About Your Feelings
Caring for someone with cancer is incredibly difficult, and you can often feel unable to talk to anyone about what you're feeling. There are a lot of difficult feelings to process, and you might feel like you can't express them when your loved one is suffering so much – especially to them. But being honest about your feelings can help you feel less stressed and more in control. You both need support to help you cope with the difficult journey you’re on. Whether that's talking to friends and family, seeking counselling or going to your GP to air your worries, it's important to be open about your feelings and seek support if you need it.
Take Breaks
Caring for a loved one can be draining emotionally, physically and mentally, so it's important that you take regular breaks. We mean more than just 5 minutes here or there. Make sure you have time off to relax and decompress. Carve out some time to do things you enjoy, whether it’s reading, going for a meal with friends, going or going for a walk. Taking these breaks will help you cope better with the daily challenges. It's also important to take proper time off for yourself, or even with your loved one. Pockets of respite really can make all of the difference in the long run. That’s one of the reasons we started Jill’s Fundraising Journey - to offer families affected by cancer the chance to access holiday respite and create some amazing memories with their loved ones.
Accept & Seek Support
Caring is a selfless thing to do, but it's important to acknowledge that it's challenging too. If you're feeling overwhelmed by the situation Y it's important you reach out for help. There are a lot of different organisations that provide services and support to people caring for loved ones with cancer. A few include:
We know just how difficult it can be to care for a loved one with cancer. Never done it ourselves! You do it out of love, but it can be a struggle too. So if you ever need support, advice or just somewhere to turn, we are always here to help.
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