One day you may end up caring for a sick or ageing loved one. And to take care of them properly, you must learn to take care of yourself. Following her parents’ deaths five weeks apart in a nursing home twelve hundred miles away, Beth Witrogen McLeod succumbed to clinical depression. ‘By ignoring my physical and mental health, I set myself up for a breakdown that would take two years to recover from. Despite its rewards, caregiving can be overwhelming.’ David said, ‘Whenever I feel low, you are there to guide me.’ So, if you’re a caregiver, follow this: 1) Set boundaries. Learn to say no where you routinely say yes. There is nothing selfish about taking care of yourself so you can give the best possible care to someone else. 2) Beware of harmful coping patterns. Misusing medication, overeating, drinking ‘to take the edge off’. You’re human, and it can happen! 3) Don’t isolate. Invite some friends over who have volunteered to help. One can cook and care for your loved one while you and another friend take a walk. 4) Ask for help. If family members aren’t pulling their weight, call a meeting and delegate responsibility. Don’t deny others the blessing that comes from ‘encouraging the fainthearted and helping the weak’ (see 1 Thessalonians 5:14 NASB). 5) Protect your time. It’s easy to schedule every minute with nothing left over for yourself. Don’t do it. Find something that feeds you: read, pray, exercise, enjoy some solitude. And what’s more, schedule it, or it won’t happen!

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.