For Carers And The Bereaved

Self-Care for Carers and for the Bereaved

It is not at all surprising that the death of a loved one regularly comes at the top of the list of the most stressful things that we experience in life. 

The sense of shock, sadness, anger and despair that a bereavement can cause is an emotional response, but it can cause physical issues too, such as digestive problems, aches and pains, headaches, inflammation, loss of appetite, disrupted sleep, depression and anxiety. 

When we are dealing with a stressful or traumatic life event such as a death, our usual routines go out of the window and as well as the emotional fall-out we have to confront and deal with all sorts of unfamiliar tasks and processes. It is often the case that we prioritise the needs of others over our own.

Once the caring role ends, it is quite common for the carer to suffer ill-health as they are particularly vulnerable during that time. The sense of shock, or even post-traumatic stress can occur for some time afterwards. There may be feelings of guilt and it is important for the bereaved to be gentle on themselves.

It is not unusual to feel a deep sense of loneliness and isolation, not only due to the loss of the person but also the professionals involved in their care. The demanding nature and intensity of a caring role can mean carers lose touch with family and friends.

It is essential that we take the time to look after ourselves and small acts of self-care can really help to promote well-being and make us better able to cope.

Ways to Promote Well-being

In the following section, Ways to Promote Well-being, we outline some of the practices that may help you. Everyone is different and where you are in your caring or bereavement journey is very personal to you. So whether it is Yoga, Acupuncture, Reiki, or one of the many other practices, we hope you find something that works best for you.