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A Meditation Workshop for Family Caregivers at MOIRA and Springvale Park Carer Group & Understanding Stress in Caregiving and Tips for Overcoming It

Recently, meditation coach Michael Teh was invited by MOIRA and Springvale Park Carer Group to lead a meditation workshop for their caregivers whose primary role is to care for their children and spouses with special needs.

We know that caregiving is a very demanding task that requires a lot of mental and emotional strength. Through the meditation workshop, the caregivers were able to rejuvenate, recharge and regain their inner strength to continue being there for their loved ones.

Read on as we take a closer look at caregiving, the challenges, and ways to address them.

“Mindfulness meditation can help you get in touch with yourself and improve your own well-being. In other words, you can take advantage of a rare opportunity to relax while enhancing your emotional and mental well-being.”

Recently, meditation coach Michael Teh was invited by MOIRA and Springvale Park Carer Group to lead a meditation workshop for their caregivers whose primary role is to care for their children and spouses with special needs.

We know that caregiving is a very demanding task that requires a lot of mental and emotional strength. Through the meditation workshop, the caregivers were able to rejuvenate, recharge and regain their inner strength to continue being there for their loved ones.

Continue to read on as we take a closer look at caregiving, the challenges, and ways to address them.

Providing care can offer many benefits. Most caregivers want to fulfill a core value of being there for a loved one when they need them.

But it can also be debilitating, physically and emotionally exhausting, and isolating. At times, it can be perceived as a burden. Caregivers need to develop a physical and emotional self-care routine.

Severe stress that lasts for an extended period of time can severely affect one’s well-being. If steps are not taken to relieve the pressure on a regular basis, caregivers are at high risk of burning out and may suffer from both physical and emotional problems. Persistent stress is known to contribute to depression, a weakened immune system, high blood pressure, heart disease, and other negative health consequences.

When caregiving work exceeds your abilities and leads to excessive stress, you may experience the following symptoms:

– You feel overwhelmed or worried all the time

– You often feel tired

– You get too much or too little sleep

– You gain or lose weight

– You become easily irritable or angry

– You lose interest in activities you used to enjoy

– Feel sad

– Frequent headaches, body aches, or other physical problems

– Abuse alcohol or drugs, including prescription medications

 

Here is how to cope with caregiver stress:

  1. Accept help. Prepare a list of ways others can help, and then have each person choose what they would like to do. For example, a friend might agree to walk with the person being cared for a few times a week. You could also ask a friend or family member to help with housework, shopping, or cooking.
  2. Pay attention to what you can accomplish. While it’s normal to feel guilty at times, remember that no caregiver is “perfect.” Acknowledge that you are always doing your best and making the best decisions possible.
  3. Set attainable goals for yourself. Break down difficult activities into manageable, individual steps. Make lists, set priorities, and create a daily schedule. Start turning down offers that make you uncomfortable, such as an invitation to dinner during a vacation.
  4. Make contacts. Find out what support programs are available in your area for family caregivers. Your loved one’s illness is specifically addressed in several community events. There may be options for caregiving services, such as home help, meal delivery, or driving services.
  5. Participate in a support group. A support group can offer you comfort, inspiration, and problem-solving techniques for difficult situations. Members of a support group can relate to what you may be going through. You can also make lasting friendships in a support group.
  6. Seek out social support. Try to build close relationships with loved ones and close friends who can offer unbiased emotional support. Even if it’s just a walk with a friend, schedule time for each other each week.
  7. Set goals for your own health. For example, schedule time to exercise most days of the week, eat a nutritious diet, and drink plenty of water.
    Many family caregivers suffer from sleep problems. Long-term health problems can result from not getting enough sleep. See your doctor if you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep through the night.
  8. See your doctor. Get the recommended immunizations and tests. Tell your doctor about your role as a caregiver. Any concerns or symptoms you have should be mentioned without hesitation.
  9. Practise mindfulness meditation. For family caregivers, mindfulness meditation is a very useful and relaxing practice. In this exercise, you take the time to slow down and pay close attention to your thoughts and sensations, almost as if you were an outside observer.
    There is growing evidence that something as basic as mindfulness meditation can relieve tension and reduce stress, as scientists learn more and more about how closely our thoughts and our bodies are intertwined.

As a family caregiver, you can feel helpless and overwhelmed. Mindfulness meditation can help you get in touch with yourself and improve your own well-being. In other words, you can take advantage of a rare opportunity to relax while enhancing your emotional and mental well-being.

 

Credit: Mayoclinic.org & Training.mmlearn.org

Michael Teh, 7th July 2022.

Michael Teh is a meditation coach devoted to a personal mission of awakening more people to higher consciousness. He teaches self-realization through meditation, qigong, yoga and philosophy.

Michael Teh Signature Workshop: The Essence of Life Series explores meditation as a powerful tool to realize our true potential. Michael has designed multiple workshops in this series to support his participants’ self-realization journey. Workshop Series 1 is currently running every few months on-ground in Kuala Lumpur, titled “Knowledge of The Self and Fundamentals of Meditation”.

Be sure to follow Michael’s social media channels and website for more updates:

FB: www.facebook.com/iammichaelteh | IG: www.instagram.com/iammichaelteh/  | Website: www.iammichaelteh.com/