How often do you find yourself worrying about your senior’s health, her future, or even just about tiny details throughout the day? If you’re like most caregivers, you’re probably spending a lot more time than you want or than you want to admit just in worrying. This is usually a habit and like most habits, you can break it.
Worrying Looks Like Action Sometimes
Sometimes worrying can look like it’s accomplishing something. It occupies your brain and you might find that you’re doing a lot, too. You might be making phone calls or doing other things that seem as if they might help whatever situation is causing you strife. But in reality, all of that action is just you flailing around. Worrying tends to stir up the waters, but it doesn’t help you to paddle.
It Can Feel Like Action, Too
The problem is that as much as it looks like action, it can feel like you’re doing something as well. This is especially true because when you’re worried, you often feel that the situation you’re in is out of control. You can’t control your senior’s health issues, but you can worry and you might even nag her about doing certain things. But none of that actually resolves anything that’s going on.
Worry Is Really a Way to Distract Yourself from Other Things
Lots of times your brain gets bogged down in worrying, no matter what else is going on. And at times, the worries that haven’t happened might be preferable to the real situations that you aren’t having any luck controlling either. By ramping down the worrying, you might just find you have the time and the energy to pursue solutions for the real issues at play.
Look for Solutions and People You Can Lean On
It’s not as easy as just stopping, though, especially when you’ve been counting on your habit of worrying to get you through each day. Let someone you care about know that you’re kicking the worry habit and ask them to help you notice when you’re slipping into old habits. If the situation is really bad, you might consider working with a counselor to help you learn new tools.
The thing is, as a caregiver you’re going to have plenty of situations that genuinely inspire worrying. But if you’re amplifying that, it’s not going to serve you well. Give yourself a fighting chance to kick your worry habit.
If you or an aging loved one is considering caregivers in Englewood, CO, please contact the caring staff at SYNERGY HomeCare Denver. Call today: (303) 756-9322.
