How Can You Tell that Your Stress Levels Are Rising?
Being a caregiver means that you’re paying a lot of attention to what your senior needs, but you also have to pay attention to what you need. If you don’t, your stress levels can rapidly race out of control.
You’re Avoiding More and More on Your List
When you’re feeling stressed, there are likely tasks and responsibilities that you’re avoiding. Sometimes that avoidance happens because those activities are the ones increasing your stress. Other times it happens because you’re so distracted by how you’re feeling that it’s difficult to get anything done at all.
You’re Experiencing Much More Anxiety
For many people increased stress also comes with increased anxiety levels. You might not even know exactly what it is that you’re feeling anxious about. Often caregivers become worried about doing anything wrong or making the wrong decision for their elderly family member, which can ultimately be crippling.
You May not Be Able to Control Your Thoughts
During times when you’re experiencing normal stress levels, you’re more than likely able to manage your thoughts. As your stress levels rise, however, it becomes far more difficult to keep negative or intrusive thoughts from derailing your progress. Part of this is because the increased stress levels keep your brain preoccupied and unable to filter its thoughts.
You Might Feel as if You Have to Be on Alert Constantly
Increased stress levels mean that your brain and body are on constant alert. Even if you don’t really have to be that vigilant, you can’t really turn it off. Your brain and your body end up even more exhausted because you’re waiting for the next scary event to pop up.
You’re Not Eating or Sleeping Properly
The higher your stress levels are, the less likely you are to be eating the foods you should be eating. You’re probably also not sleeping as well as you should. Both of these factors are signals to your body and your brain that there really is something to worry about, which can turn around and increase your stress even more.
The sooner you can start to recognize your own personal signs of rising stress, the sooner you can put possible remedies to work for you. One of the best solutions is to make contact with experienced home care services providers who can lessen some of the load for you.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Care Services in Lexington NC, please contact the caring staff at TenderHearted Home Care today. (704) 612-4132.
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