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Life as a Caregiver of a Cancer Patient:
Finding out about your loved one&rsquo;s cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming for you and everyone around you. The physical and emotional well-being of cancer patients depends on receiving good, dependable caregiver support. Cancer caregivers assist the patient with dressing, eating, and bathing. They also coordinate schedules, handle insurance concerns, organize appointments, and offer transportation. If you choose to be the primary caregiver for your loved one there are many challenges you might face.

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Is it okay for me to feel stress/resentment as a caregiver?
Caregiving is a very hard job since you are on duty all the time. Sometimes this factor can intrude on your personal life. Be it personal work, chores, or your me-time. The job can also be difficult if you are taking care of your loved one, and they experience sudden changes. Seeing a loved one battle their illness can be tough on you.
Being a caregiver takes a toll on your physical and emotional health. It is as important to take care of yourself as you do for others. Caregiving is a selfless job. You may often feel stressed, overwhelmed, exhausted after a long day, or have conflicting feelings about certain situations. When you are the primary caregiver of a family member, one may feel resentment building up. This is completely normal to feel like a human.

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Caregiver&rsquo;s Stress is the physical and emotional stress of caregiving. If caregiver stress is not managed, it can hurt your health, relationships, and mental health, eventually resulting in burnout, a state of emotional, mental, and physical weariness. It's crucial to learn about the symptoms of caregiver stress and burnout so you can act quickly to stop things from getting worse and start getting better for both you and the person you're caring for.
1. Typical indicators of caregiver stress include:
2. Depression, impatience, and anxiety.
3. Constantly feeling drained and exhausted.
4. Experiencing trouble sleeping
5. Feelings of resentment, unappreciation, and anger
6. Easily getting frustrated over small things
7. Neglecting own health
8. Worsening of physical and emotional health issues

Signs of Caregiver Stress:

How do I manage/cope with these feelings?
As discussed above the job of a Caregiver comes with a lot of stress. So how can one manage and overcome this stress? Let&rsquo;s discuss below:
1. It's okay to ask for help: If you are the primary caregiver in the family. Ask someone to help with chores. Don&rsquo;t take up too many tasks and exhaust yourself. A little help might make things easier for you.
2. Accept the situation: When a loved one battles a certain illness, we often find it difficult to accept the situation. Now as a caregiver, not accepting the situation makes it more difficult and stressful. Face the situation rather than avoid it.&nbsp;
3. Be proud of yourself: As a caregiver, there may be times when you feel underappreciated. Remind yourself how wonderful you are. Try to keep in mind the impact that providing care might have on a person's life.
4. Take a break: Leisure time may feel like a luxury you can't afford as a busy caregiver. But you must make time for yourself as well. Give yourself permission to take regular breaks and engage in enjoyable activities.
5. Practice Mindfulness: Take out at least 5 minutes of your day to meditate and breathe all that stress out. Regular meditation can help feel less stressed and calm.
6. Share how you feel: You won't become a burden to others if you express your feelings to family or friends. If you do not feel comfortable enough try talking to our Lissun experts, who understand how you feel and can help you through this.

What is a caregiver? When someone needs assistance with daily tasks and activities, a caregiver looks out for their health and wellbeing. In most cases, a spouse, partner, parent, or adult child provides the major (primary) care. Caregivers not only provide assistance with daily tasks but also provide emotional support throughout the patient's journey. Caring for a loved one can be rewarding on its own but being a caregiver is not always easy.

 Coping Mechanisms for Caregivers of Cancer Patients

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