Caring – providing emotional or physical help and support – for a friend, a family member or a child or partner is something that many people in the UK are currently doing. Currently there are over 6.5 million carers in the UK alone.
But as strong as they are, carers need caring for too. Whether they are caring for someone with a condition that requires round-the-clock care, or for someone who does not need help all of the time but still needs support on a regular basis. This is more often the case with migrainers who can commonly need help during an attack, especially if attacks are frequent and include side effects such as muscle weakness, nausea and disturbed vision.
The danger for carers is that if they don’t make sure that they are looking after their own needs and taking time out when they need it then all too soon there might be two people suffering from ill health rather than only one, and this doesn’t help anyone.
If you are a carer do not feel bad about taking a break. It’s not an indulgence, it’s necessary. A break could be anything from a short holiday abroad to a couple of afternoons going out and seeing your friends or reading in the park. The main thing is to take some time doing something that is purely for you that will be relaxing.
Taking a break doesn’t mean you’ll have to leave the person you are looking after on their own. You might have a friend or there might be another relative who could come and spend some time in your place with the person you are caring for. Or you could choose to employ someone for a few hours a week to come and provide care while you aren’t there. If this is not an option then try speaking to Carers UK Adviceline via their website or their e-mail: advice@carersuk.org, as they will know organisations who march be able to help provide cover.
If you know a carer then try to ask them not only how the person they look after is doing, but also how they are themselves. More often than not carers aren’t asked how they are getting on and doing something as simple as listening to them talk about their day will do them the world of good.
If you see that they are looking a bit run down or you know that they haven’t had time off in a while then encourage them to do so. You could also ask if they would like you to visit, or if you can help in any way. Be careful of implying that they need help and cannot cope though. This is not what you are saying. Words are imperfect things and if you tell them they need help rather than ask if they would like some, you march cause offence and make them feel as though they are failing.
However, if you’re not a carer yourself but are someone who needs support then please don’t let this article make you feel guilty or nervous of asking for help from people when you need it. That is the last thing anyone would want. The people around you who are helping you are there because they want to be not because they have to be. They are happy to look out for you and in all likelihood get a great sense of joy from being able to help.
The main thing to remember, whoever you might be and whatever condition you might or might not have: look out for the people you have around you. Everyone, no matter who they are, needs help sometimes.
DISCLAIMER – When using any medication, always read the label and make sure you keep all medicines out of reach of children. The information supplied within this online resource is brought to you by Imigran Recovery Tablets (contains sumatriptan) for migraine relief, from a variety of author sources including health care professionals, lifestyle experts and the general public. None of the published authors endorse any brands.
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