Caring for your elderly parents is fulfilling but challenging at the same time, often causing your stress levels to go off charts.
Sometimes your finding the right medication, responding to an emergency, or taking the evenings to make the extra trips to the store.As our parents become less mobile we start to understand the scope of the help that is needed, and the amount of time and money that can strain our mental health.
Getting overwhelmed, and losing patience is not what we want, but the stress and anxiety can create toxic environments and hurt relationships if not dealt with.
So in this blog, let's explore some ways for you to be able to handle caregiver stress. Learn more about self-care strategies and as well as the importance of seeking support from family and friends around you.
Get ready to also delve into simple yet effective stress management techniques like meditation, exercise, and natural remedies to help you find balance, reduce chronic stress, and improve your overall well-being.
Article Highlight:
- Being a family caregiver to your aging parents, it can be rewarding, but it doesn't mean that it doesn't come with challenges and cause you from acute stress to even chronic stress. That's why it's essential for you to prioritize self-care and find ways to manage stress.
- Self-care strategies are very important for family caregivers which include taking breaks, engaging in healthy hobbies, practicing relaxation techniques, and maintaining a healthy diet and exercise routine.
- And remember you're not alone, so don't be afraid to seek help from those around you. The support of your family and friends can make a big difference and it can come in various forms, such as sharing caregiving responsibilities just to ease the load of providing emotional support.
- Lastly, try exploring natural solutions to alleviate chronic stress from caregiving responsibilities like meditation, exercise, and alternative therapies like CBDA and magnesium to reduce the stress.
Understanding the Stress of Caring for Elderly Parents
It's no question that caring for your elderly parents can be both rewarding and challenging. As a family caregiver, you may sometimes feel overwhelmed or stressed out by the emotional and physical demands that come with looking after your aging loved ones.
It's normal for you to experience different feelings like guilt, frustration, and sadness especially as you try to balance your own life with their needs. But when it becomes too much, it can affect your physical and mental health. And this can cause you to make poor decisions that lead to more stress down the road.
That's why managing stress that comes with the responsibility is important for your general wellbeing.
Stressors of Caring for Elderly Parents
When we feel overwhelmed from chronic stress, our decision making becomes compromised. Often, this is the result of poor sleep from chronic stress affects that result in fatigue and cloudy thinking.
Over time, your mental health may take a hit, and mistakes are made that cause more stress and anxiety in a feedback loop.
Some of the more common stressors and areas where we can make mistakes when caring for elderly parents:
- Medications: Often elderly parents are on multiple medications to treat different ailments. These can run out or low without getting refilled, or when to take them or not can get confusing. Often, one doctor does not know what another prescribed, and if you dont have an up to date list, contradicting drugs may be prescribed.
- Managing care: Do your parents have part time help? Are they in a nursing home? Making sure they get the best attention and are treated kindly is more difficult than most people realize until they are responsible for that situation. Poor management of the people involved can lead to worse outcomes than when you started!
- Finances: Understanding the cost of medical assistance is important, as unexpected bills can be extremely damaging to your finances. Many people do not plant out this stage of life with their parents, and having a clear head when making complex financial decisions is critical.
If you are not taking control of your mental health and stressors, you will be in a difficult situation caring for elderly parents.
Natural Solutions for Caregiver Stress
As a caregiver, you might experience high levels of stress which is no wonder considering the stressful situations you might be in due to this responsibility. Hence, stress management is really important.
Here are some natural solutions to prevent stress for caregivers:
Self-Care Strategies for Caregivers
When you are taking care of others it comes with many duties. Along with caregiving duties come stress. That's why it's extremely essential for you to not disregard your own needs and prioritize self-care. This way, you'll be able to maintain your physical health and emotional well-being.
By taking care of yourself, you can better prevent stress and provide quality care for your elderly parents.
One way of managing stress effectively is by incorporating stress-relief activities into your daily life. Try taking short breaks throughout the day to rest and recharge after taking care of your parents. This can help you maintain your energy levels and prevent burnout so you can be at your best.
Additionally, engaging in healthy hobbies or leisure activities that bring you joy and relaxation can also help alleviate stress. Whether it's reading a book, going for a walk, or practicing a favorite hobby, taking time for yourself is crucial for alleviating physical and emotional symptoms of stress.
Moreover, when you practice deep breathing exercises or progressive muscle relaxation techniques, you can reduce muscle tension brought about by stress which can cause numerous problems from discomfort to health issues. This can further help you manage stress and better handle it. You can do these simple yet effective techniques anywhere, anytime, and can provide you immediate relief from stress and anxiety.
Lastly, maintaining a balanced diet and getting regular exercise are also important self-care strategies and stress management training for family caregivers. When you eat well and stay active, it can help improve your mood, increase your energy levels, strengthen your immune system, and ultimately alleviate various physical and mental health problems.
Seeking Support From Family and Friends
When you feel stressed when you're taking care of your elderly parents, don't hesitate to seek help from your family and friends. Their support can be super helpful and can come in various forms, such as sharing caregiving responsibilities and tasks.
By dividing the workload, you can reduce your stress levels and ensure that your elderly parents receive the care they need.
Family and friends can also provide you with emotional support and lend you a listening ear. Talking about your situation and whenever you experience stress, they can help you feel less isolated and more heard and understood.
Lastly, the practical assistance that you can receive from your family and friends, like running errands or preparing meals. This can help lighten your load and make your caregiving responsibilities more manageable.
Introduction to Cannabidiolic Acid (CBDA)
I know its difficult to make all the lifestyle changes that you need to do, so there are also natural remedies that can help you manage stress without long term side effects of medications.Many people with high stress levels are turning to this amazing hemp compound called Cannabidiolic Acid (CBDA).
It's a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, which means it wont get you "high" like conventional marijuana. This is critical since you are often on the call when caring for elderly parents.
Most people are not familiar with CBDA, but it is the most abundant cannabinoid in the hemp flower and is the precursor to the more widely known compound, the Cannabidiol (CBD). When the cannabis plant or extract is exposed to heat or sunlight, CBDA transforms into CBD through a process known as decarboxylation.
While the research you can find on CBDA is still in its early stages, it's proving to be very promising in managing stress and relieving anxiety and depression. Take a look at some of the potential benefits of CBDA for family caregivers:
- Anti-anxiety effects: Just so you know, CBDA interacts with the serotonin system in your body. This system plays a crucial role in regulating your mood and anxiety. CBDA's interaction with the serotonin system may help alleviate symptoms of anxiety and stress, making you feel more at ease and relaxed.
- Anti-inflammatory properties: CBDA has been found to possess potent anti-inflammatory properties, which could help reduce inflammation in your body. This might contribute to reducing anxiety and stress, helping you manage your stress.
- Antioxidant effects: Like other cannabinoids, CBDA has antioxidant properties that may help protect your body from oxidative stress. This can be beneficial in managing anxiety and stress-related disorders that come with the responsibilities of caring for your elderly parents.
- Enhanced Absorption: Multiple studies have found that CBDA has greater absorption than CBD, between 500% and 1000% more, making it the most potent cannabinoid on the market.
How to Incorporate CBDA into Your Stress Relief Routine
Just like CBD, there are various CBDA products that you can choose from. This includes various type like oils, tinctures, capsules, and topicals. It is crucial to pick out a reputable and trustworthy brand that offers high-quality, third-party-tested products so you can be sure of the supplement you will be taking.
Natural Dos uses a certified third party testing lab for all its final products.
Finally, start with a low dose of CBDA and then you can gradually increase the dose you take until you find the optimal amount for your needs. Typically, this will be in the 20-40mg range, with many people taking a couple hundred mgs a day if necessary.
While some people can have immediate effects, we often recommend to try the product for 1 to 2 weeks to get the full benefits.
Some people may find that it can make them sleepy, so if you are one of them, take it 1 hour before bedtime. However, many users report taking after waking up in the morning and after work.
Keep in mind that each person's reaction to CBDA may vary, so it may take some trial and error for you to find the right dosage for you.
Before you think of adding CBDA into your stress relief routine as a family caregiver, it's essential to check in with a healthcare provider. They can help you determine whether or not CBDA is suitable for you. Health professionals will also check the potential interactions with any other medications a person might be taking before suggesting CBDA supplementation.
Conclusion
Managing your stress that comes with caregiving is tough and really challenging. After all, your parents depending on you. But it is crucial to maintain your well-being too while caring for elderly parents.
When you prioritize self-care, seek support from family and friends, and explore natural remedies like CBDA, you can effectively handle stress and provide the best care for your elderly parents. Remember, you're not alone on this journey, and with the right tools and support, you can make caring for your loved ones more manageable and rewarding experience for all involved.