<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Nunito, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If a person is diagnosed with cancer, they suffer the brunt of the illness, but they are not the only ones who suffer from this disease. Behind a cancer patient or survivor, there is an entire army of caregivers who also suffer the consequences of the disease. <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Nunito, sans-serif; color: #212529; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A substantial body of research shows that family members who provide care to individuals with chronic or disabling conditions are themselves at risk.
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Nunito, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are serious psychological consequences of being a caregiver, studies showing that complaints of anxiety, depression and stress are quite common. A caregiver has to provide not only physical but emotional support, which can be quite stressful and burdensome if proper care isn't taken by the caregiver.

Pic : Canva | Chinnapong

<h1 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 20pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; font-family: Nunito, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 600; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Impact of Caregiving</h1>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Nunito, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The effects of cancer on your relationships with friends and family members vary widely, based on the closeness of each relationship. Different families have different communication and coping styles.
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Nunito, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some caregivers report positive outcomes such as post-traumatic growth/benefit finding, while others experience anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other challenges.

Pic : Canva | Yuganov Konstantin

<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Nunito, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Studies have shown that women who are caregivers are more likely to develop symptoms of depression and anxiety. The expectations of the complex care required by family caregivers are quite high, without having any time to prepare themselves. Caregiving can be quite an unpredictable and uncontrollable task, caregivers often feeling helplessness with no one themselves to turn to.&nbsp;
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Nunito, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Being a caregiver can often extract enormous amounts of one&rsquo;s energy and affect their daily lives to an extreme, causing hindrance in their work, their personal relationships and often their mental health. It can decrease the quality of their life as they have trouble coping up with their role as a caregiver, often facing socio-economic burdens.&nbsp;
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Nunito, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Caregivers might feel disheartened and often live in fear of the future, the changes that might occur, fearing the loss of life of their loved ones, feeling unable to help in a significant manner, anxiety over the consequences of treatment or even the re-emergence of the disease.&nbsp;

<span style="font-size: 18pt; font-family: Nunito, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 600; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How to take Care of Oneself&nbsp;
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Nunito, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The psychological consequences of Caregiving can vary from person to person, depending on the care they are receiving as well. It is essential that the Caregiver give their own emotional and physical needs a priority as well, since it will help them take care of their loved ones better.
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Nunito, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some ways to take care of themselves :-
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<li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Nunito, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;" role="checkbox" aria-level="1" aria-checked="false">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Nunito, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Exercise&nbsp;
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<li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Nunito, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; text-align: justify;" role="checkbox" aria-level="1" aria-checked="false">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Nunito, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Planning activities that give one pleasure
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<li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Nunito, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; text-align: justify;" role="checkbox" aria-level="1" aria-checked="false">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Nunito, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Practise a healthy and balanced diet
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<li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Nunito, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; text-align: justify;" role="checkbox" aria-level="1" aria-checked="false">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Nunito, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ask for help when needed
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<li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Nunito, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; text-align: justify;" role="checkbox" aria-level="1" aria-checked="false">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Nunito, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Meditation
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<li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Nunito, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; text-align: justify;" role="checkbox" aria-level="1" aria-checked="false">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Nunito, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Practising gratitude&nbsp;
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<li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Nunito, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; text-align: justify;" role="checkbox" aria-level="1" aria-checked="false">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Nunito, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Practise positive self-view
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<li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Nunito, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; text-align: justify;" role="checkbox" aria-level="1" aria-checked="false">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Nunito, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Adopt alternative thinking
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<li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Nunito, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;" role="checkbox" aria-level="1" aria-checked="false">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Nunito, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Refer a mental health professional for support
</li>
</ul>

Pic : Canva | Madison Inouye

<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Nunito, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The caregiver needs to re-prioritise their own health before taking care of another person, this can help them be mentally and physically prepared to offer support.&nbsp;
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Nunito, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Caregiving can often help people re-examine their lives and what they value, helping them be more empathetic to the people around them. Caregivers are often able to develop closer relationships with their loved ones including partners&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Nunito, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and children, as they learn to appreciate their lives.&nbsp;
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Nunito, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is important to understand that it's quite normal to feel overwhelmed, burdened or even trapped at times while providing care. That feeling of helplessness only makes you human, and it&rsquo;s okay to admit when you require help or a break. Understanding yourself and your emotions can not only help you provide better care but lead to developing healthy, mutually supportive relationships during this challenging time, for not only the cancer patient, but you.

Psychological Consequences of Caregiving