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I’ve Been Piling On The Pressure
Being a carer, there is a LOT of extreme and constant pressure on you. Your life becomes something that is not about you at all. Your entire existence becomes wrapped up in looking after the person that you care for.
BURNOUT
A large number of these carers will, at some time or the other, experience burnout. They will get to the point where, no matter how much they want to, they literally cannot physically or emotionally, give any more.
I know this feeling, and it isn’t a nice one. Dependent on the needs of the person that you’re caring for, there can be immense pressure:
“If I’m not there when they need me, will they hurt themselves?”
These thoughts can go round and round in the mind of a carer, until the fear is almost crippling. I know it was for me.
PUTTING MYSELF FIRST
Carers very rarely put themselves first. They always come second, never will they put their own needs above their loved one.
I can remember days when I was so exhausted, and had the beginnings of a migraine, and even then, I made sure that my friend was okay and that she had everything that she needed before I actually took the painkillers I…