Personal Relationship Counseling & Consulting | Alpharetta, GA | 30009

Eddie Reece in Alpharetta, GA specialized in helping individuals improve their daily relationships in work, life and love. Sign up today

Text Size:+-
Eddie Reece, MS, LPC, BC-TMH
A Concierge Counseling Practice
(770) 671-1814 | eddie@eddiereece.com
  • Home
  • Find Relief
    • Relationship Struggles?
    • Stress & Anxiety?
    • Mid or 3/4 Life Crisis?
    • Feeling Down?
    • Stuck in Grief or Loss?
    • Improve Your Sex Life
    • My Concierge Services
    • Business Consulting
    • Sports Enhancement
    • Celebrity, High Profile Client?
    • Speaking Engagements
  • Contact Eddie
  • Location, Fees & Insurance
  • About Eddie
    • Learn More About Me
    • Testimonials
  • Reviews
    • Leave A Review
  • Resources
    • Helpful Books & DVD’s
    • Articles
    • Community Resources
    • Support Groups
  • Blog

Coping with a Loved One’s Serious Illness

Posted on 04.12.18

When a serious illness strikes a family, everyone’s life is thrown into turmoil. Whether the illness is chronic or acute, no one can really prepare you for the responsibility of caregiving and the emotions that go with it.

Unfortunately, as we throw ourselves into overdrive, doing everything we can to deliver the best care to our loved one, we typically put our own self-care on the backburner, which ultimately leads to caregiver burnout.

If you’re feeling worn out, here are some ways you can care for yourself while caring for your loved one:

Give Yourself Space

You’re no doubt overwhelmed and inundated with activities that surround your loved one’s care. It’s important that you take time to get away for some quiet reflection. Take a walk in nature or a long drive to clear your head and catch your breath.

Eat Right

If there were any time in your life you craved comfort foods, now would be it! But loading up on carbs and sugar is not what your body needs. Do your best to forego donuts and pasta and instead opt for fruits and vegetables.

Connect with Others

It’s easy to become isolated during this time. You’re tired and emotional, and besides the goings-on at various doctors’ appointments, you may feel you have little to offer in the way of sterling conversation.

It’s important that you remain socially active and connect with others. This could mean finding a local support group, or grabbing a latte with friends every Thursday morning. You need to remember who you are as a person, not just a caregiver, and social interactions will help you feel human.

Get Help

Many family caregivers feel it’s their entire responsibility to provide care for their loved one. But you don’t have to do everything by yourself. Reach out to other family members and friends for help. Look into getting a home health aid who can step in for you so you can have a couple hours off each week.

You may also want to consider seeking the guidance of a family therapist who can help you navigate your emotions and offer tools to help you cope with your new day-to-day reality.

If you’d like to explore therapy options, please get in touch with me. I’d love to discuss how I might be able to help you and your family during this difficult time.

Categories: Grief

Leave a Comment Cancel

List of Posts

  • Understanding The Duality Of Life
  • Understanding Your Inner Parts: Discovering The Multiple Selves Within
  • Do We Have A Mental Health Crisis?
  • Show Stoppers – Money, Sex, & Death
  • Boosting Immunity Through The Mind-Body Connection
  • The Power Of Empathy In Relationship Building – Relationships, Part 2
  • Building Stronger Bonds Through Relationship Therapy – Relationships, Part 1
  • Freedom From Holiday Stress: Rethinking Traditions And Finding Meaning
  • How Fantasy Shapes Our Lives, Part 1
  • Breaking Down Trauma: What It Is And How To Heal
  • Overcoming Division: Finding Common Ground In A Divided World
  • Beyond Hungry Ghosts: Letting Go Of Unmet Expectations
  • Who Needs Therapy? Maybe You (And Why It’s Awesome)
  • Therapy 101: What It Is & Why It Matters
  • From Psychotherapy Networker: Were You Raised by a Four-Year-Old?
  • How to Leave a Review
  • Benefits of a Mental Health Day from Work or School
  • Creating a Parenting Plan
  • Sex Therapy for Performance Anxiety in Men
  • The Power of Vulnerability
  • Knowing When to End a Relationship
  • 3 Reasons Why Men Should Try Therapy
  • How to Navigate Challenging Life Transitions
  • Therapy for Divorce
  • Tips for Coping with Social Isolation
  • Does Therapy for “Baby Blues” Work?
  • Normative Male Alexithymia: Let’s Talk About It
  • Recognizing the Signs of Postpartum Depression and Getting Help
  • Dealing with Painful Intercourse
  • Lean on Me: Why People with a Mental Health Crisis Need a Support Network
  • Sex Therapy for Intimacy Issues
  • The Benefits of Online Therapy
  • What is Positive Parenting?
  • How Counseling Can Help You Reach Your Goals in the New Year
  • How Sex Therapy Can Lead to More Intimacy
  • Understanding Sexual Desire Issues
  • Does Online Couple’s Therapy Work?
  • Communication Tips for Couples in Recovery
  • Therapy vs. Antidepressants – Which One is Better?
  • Can Long-Term Isolation Lead to an Addiction?
  • What is Therapeutic Mediation?
  • The Mental Health Impact of COVID-19 on Families
  • Benefits of Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction and Sexual Anxiety
  • Mental Health Therapy for Frontline Workers
  • Are You Doing Self-Care All Wrong?
  • Fighting Loneliness During Quarantine
  • Is it Safe to Go Back to In-Person Therapy Sessions?
  • 5 Strategies to Calm Your Anxiety Quickly
  • The Best Medicine is a Treadmill: How Daily Exercise Can Treat Depression
  • The Amazing Benefits of Meditation

Here's my blog post, "What is Love?" https://t.co/wTrmpxP9my Define love wrong & your relationships will be a struggle #rethinklove&romance

— Eddie Reece, MS, LPC (@EddieReeceLPC) April 1, 2016

Daniel is a Premium WordPress Theme Built on Genesis

Getting Along | A WEBSITE BY BRIGHTER VISION