Vim & Vigor - Winter 2011 - North Mississippi - (Page 49)

Care Caregiver for the When assisting someone with an illness, be sure not to overlook your own well-being C aregiving has many definitions for different people—it may be a long-term commitment, a brief stint of helping out or something in between. But one thing is a constant: If you don’t look after yourself, it will be hard to tend to the patient. “Whether caring for a spouse, child, parent or anyone else, in order to provide the best care for them, you have to take care of yourself, too,” says Joy Johnson, licensed professional counselor and outreach manager at the North Mississippi Medical Center Behavioral Health Center. Basic Training Johnson says to start with the very basics of self-care: “Make sure you are getting enough sleep, eat right and exercise.” Many times, especially when someone is adjusting to being a caregiver, even basic needs go unmet. “Many caregivers put the other person’s needs far above their own,” Johnson says. “But if you are not healthy, how can you take care of someone else?” She advises caregivers to keep doing the things in life that bring them joy. “If you run or are in a book club or a bunco group, keep going,” she says. “Maybe you have to cut back or rearrange your schedule, but it’s so important to give yourself something to look forward to—a mental break from the extreme stress of being a caregiver.” One common stressor is the fear of the unknown. “Educate yourself on their diagnosis,” she says. “Become an expert on their illness or disability. Find out the prognosis, the expected course and all available Vim & Vigor • WI NTER 2011 49

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Winter 2011 - North Mississippi

Vim & Vigor - Winter 2011 - North Mississippi
Contents
Opening Thoughts
Getting Back to Life
ACT Now!
Lingering Memories
Accumulating Accolades
Back in Action
Supplementary Knowledge
Keys to Survival
Clearing the Air
Mark Harmon of NCIS fame makes 60 look good
This One’s for the Girls
Life After a Loss
Do Your Diabetes Homework
Healthy Returns
Care for the Caregiver
Gaining Control
Moving Forward
Catch the Spirit

Vim & Vigor - Winter 2011 - North Mississippi