Make it a priority to put aside time to think about what you need. As one carer said:
“If you have travelled on a plane you’ll be familiar with the safety advice – that if there’s an emergency, and the oxygen masks are activated, you need to put yours on first before helping anyone you are caring for – the risk being if you don’t put yourself first, you may lose consciousness before you can help others. It really is just as crucial for us carers to put our health first.
As a parent of two sons with psychosis, I know all too well that always putting your own needs at the bottom of your personal pile of demands and responsibilities can result in poor health.
I felt that my own life could happen later – once my sons were both well. It was only when I became seriously depressed myself that I realised that I needed to stay well too. At this stage I took up all the help and support I could get and started on my own personal journey of Recovery.”
— Carer, West Midlands
‘MyCare’ App
A good starting point to support your own health and wellbeing whilst caring would be to download the ‘MyCare’ App from the App Store. The ‘Mycare’ app was developed by the Meriden Family Programme and it helps carers and family members take good care of themselves.
If you don’t have a phone or tablet why not view the content on the ‘MyCare App’ website?
This site also has a range of resources and tools that you can use to help look after yourself, as well as inspirational caregiver narratives. Have a browse to find out which tools and resources are the most useful for you.
Caring for Yourself Manual
Rethink Mental Illness and the Meriden Family Programme have created Caring for Yourself to help people with mental health problems and carers, family and friends. It is for you if you support someone with any mental health condition. You may have a relative struggling with anxiety, depression or bipolar disorder, a friend with psychosis, schizophrenia or a personality disorder. Whatever the diagnosis, Caring for Yourself can help you to develop skills and new ways to cope.
Click on ‘Caring for Yourself‘ for more details.
