Whether you have an acute illness like cancer, or a chronic illness like diabetes, having a medical condition impacts how we feel about ourselves and the way that we experience the world around us. Our bodies and minds work in such a way that our emotions affect how our bodies function and vice versa. Our medical providers are experts in helping us treat our bodies, but we sometimes need an additional person on our “team” to help us create a sense of emotional wellness, too. Treating illness and side effects are important, but so is being proactive about our health.
Being a caregiver is also a very important role. What is a caregiver? “Caregiver” can be a formal role, someone who is trained and paid to care for the physical and medical needs of others. It can also be an informal role, a loved one who is untrained and unpaid in the physical tasks of caring for someone else. While we are willing and happy to take care of those around us, caregiving can also take a significant emotional, social, and financial toll. Taking care of oneself as a caregiver is so important because it allows us to feel whole and healthy - and allows us to take better care of those around us. If you don’t put your own oxygen mask on first, who will be there to put it on for others?
