When you're a family caregiver, you're going to experience a wide range of emotions. Some of the most intimidating emotions for you to manage can be the combination of anxiety and fear. Figuring out how to deal with these feelings starts with sorting through what's causing them. Determine What's Making You Feel Afraid and Anxious as a Caregiver
So many different factors can cause both anxiety and fear to flare up for you as a caregiver. Perhaps your family member's health worsens or you start to worry that you won't be able to care for her the way that she needs.
Regardless, fear and anxiety are cues for you. They exist to let you know that you're experiencing a hodgepodge of emotions related to overwhelm, confusion, and concern. They can be a cue to help you solve problems more effectively if you use them to your advantage before you reach the point of being completely burned out.
Look at the Resources You Have
You may have far more resources to help your elderly family member than you realize. Contact local homecare agencies that help seniors in your area and determine what programs they have available to you.
You can also talk to friends and family members who have expressed a desire to help in the past. All of these may offer you more help than you realize. But you might need some more specialized help, which is why hiring home care providers can be a game changer for you.
Put a Plan in Place
Once you know what resources you have available, you can start to put a plan in place to help your family member and you the most efficiently. Having home care providers is even more helpful at this stage because they can help you to fine tune that plan.Revisit the Caregiving Plan as Necessary
As wonderful as your plan is for managing your anxiety and fear, there are going to be situations that pop up out of nowhere and situations that will change. Keep in mind that you'll need to revisit your existing plan and modify it now and again to meet the current needs. There's nothing wrong with needing to change your plan, so don't let that contribute to any of your existing anxiety and fear.
You may still feel both fear and anxiety, but you should be able to minimize their impact on you by taking some solid action steps. Then, when the emotions crop up again, you can fall back on your plan and rely on it to help you through.