Surviving as a Caregiver During a Global Pandemic

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Caregivers can struggle with anxiety resulting from loneliness and isolation. The challenges those caring for family members face may lead to depression and other health issues. The caregiver who experiences stress and anxiety can benefit from a strong support system. Four years into caregiving for my husband, Scott, our last child left for college. We spent the next six years as empty nesters, filling our days with doctor’s appointments and in-home health care. While friends and family checked in with phone calls, and occasionally some dropped by to visit, I still experienced moments of feeling stuck and alone.

Today, there is the added stress of trying to manage caregiving during a global pandemic. The risk of having healthcare workers come into the home is a valid concern. Some caregivers have shut family and friends out in order to protect those with weakened immune systems. The pandemic has also taken away many outlets for caregiver socialization. Lunch with friends, going to church and traveling for respite care, has come to a halt. The anxiety caregivers feel is compounded by concerns of transmitting the Coronavirus to a loved one. Staying in the house becomes the new normal because stepping outside is scary.

It is vital that the caregivers find ways to have community, even during a global pandemic. Stress is a major part of a caregiver’s life, and having people around can help reduce some negative influences. We often think of tension as affecting the mind, but there is a physical impact as well. When you are stressed, your body produces cortisol. This hormone helps the body manage stress, but high-levels of cortisol exposes the body to diseases.

During the pandemic, although visiting is limited, caregivers can schedule time for video conference calls with family and friends. Online support groups and mentors can also help relieve some stress. These groups offer an opportunity for caregivers to speak with others who understand and who can empathize with what they go through.

As a caregiver, I also found that taking alone time to self-reflect helped when I was feeling overwhelmed.  For me, prayer and journaling became an outlet for my pent-up frustrations, concerns, and the negative emotional that came with being a caregiver. Writing my thoughts and feelings allowed me to express them in a safe way. Once I put them on paper, I could quiet my mind. Walking in my neighborhood also lifted my mood. Counseling was beneficial to me when I felt overcome emotionally.

A visit to your primary physician is always in order anytime there is a noted change in the caregiver’s health. Learning to manage anxiety as a caregiver is an essential part of dealing with both mental and physical health. Particularly now, as we deal with a life altering occurrence, a worldwide sickness, it is even more pressing to find strategies to cope.

Protecting your loved one’s health does not mean you have to do everything on your own. Set up a network and have people drop off things you might need. Friends and family want to help, but many times they don’t know what to do. Keep an ongoing list of what you need. When someone asks, be ready to give them a task they can do without needing to come into the house.  Allowing them to assist in a chore is an opportunity for them to reach out and show kindness, and it relieves you of a responsibility which can help reduce your stress. Reach out to your clergy, local crisis center, or organizations in your area when you need additional help.

Instead of having the television on the news all day, try putting on a sitcom or a funny movie. Laughter is good. When we can giggle, it triggers gratitude in us. In Proverbs 17:22 KJV Solomon writes “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine:” In this Scripture the word merry speaks of being glad, rejoicing. Look for reasons to be thankful. There is no greater activation for joy than gratitude.

Nurturing a positive outlook is also helpful. As a caregiver, I learned I could not remain in an attitude of “what ifs” and “why me?” I gave myself permission to take a moment to complain, but I chose not to linger there. I understood if I persisted too long in a mindset of disappointment, misery followed. The “what if” thoughts do not benefit anyone, nor do they change the situation.

It’s tough being a caregiver on the best day, more so during a pandemic. Creating a support system among friends and family, journaling about your experiences, and keeping a tight hold on negative thinking will aid you in staying strong in your role as your loved one’s caregiver. These actions will help minimize isolation and loneliness and better equip caregivers to fight against anxiety and stress. Above all else, stay hopeful. Remind yourself daily that the pandemic will not last forever and make time for your own self-care.

To find caregivers’ support groups in your area, contact your local hospital. Many of them have specialized groups. If they don’t have the one you need, they can refer you to other healthcare facilities or organizations in your area.