Mental Health: Caregivers Issues And Challenges
A peek into the caregivers perspective
In order to function normally and live a good life, good mental is very important. Depression and anxiety are the most common form of mental health disorders.
According to the World Health Organization, 264 million people are affected by depression the world over and more women are affected by it than men.
In my own personal experience, my spouse suffers from depression for many years. Luckily for me, he is aware that he is sick and consults a psychiatrist for treatment whenever it is required.
He does not want other people to know what was wrong with him. Our acquaintances, friends, and relatives do not understand why he is at home and always sleeping and lethargic.
As a caregiver, I know that my spouse goes through a bad time but I as a caregiver who looks after him also have certain issues and challenges of my own.
Depression impacts the life of the caregivers. They go through inner conflicts.
I would like to give some examples of the issues and challenges I have faced in looking after my spouse who is a sufferer of depression. It has impacted my life in several ways.
- Issue -My position with the patient: I often hesitate to ask my spouse how he is feeling. I do not know what is my position with him. His reactions are always strange, he is never well. He tells me of various illnesses that he is going through
The Challenge: Can you imagine that day after day someone shouts at you when you ask him how he is? How would you react when the person says oh I am having a headache or stomach ache or I am down with diarrhea and you are asking me how I am and goes back to sleep.
The caregiver also has feelings and emotions and it hurts. You do get sensitive sometimes.
2. Issue-My need to spend time with nature: I want to go out as I love nature and openness and feel good in the open air space. I love to watch children playing, socialize with friends, and have a good time too.
The challenge- I face is that I can neither go out for long, leaving him alone nor will he go with me. It is a slow death for the caregiver too. Life comes to a standstill. You do not socialize when friends invite you.
3. Issue: He does not get out of bed except for meals. I am lonely
The challenge: You feel lonely. There is no one at home. Children are married. you restrict and invite only those people who will accept the way your spouse will react. He may not come to meet the visitor at all.
You are in perfect health and wish to interact and socialize and feel terribly lonely. Loneliness is the biggest challenge that I have to combat with.
4.Issue You need a break and want to take a holiday
The challenge is that he does not need that break or holiday and he will not let you go as he thinks it is not important to travel in anyone’s life. You get irritated and it is quite natural to do so but no one understands you because you are normal. You are not sick. The other person is sick
The Covid -19 pandemic has created havoc for families where there are depression patients. Many of those who are prone to depression and anxiety have fallen sick. It has made life difficult for their families too.
Final thoughts:
The caregiver faces many issues and challenges and conflicts and no one empathizes with their situation. Patient should get love and attention but the family member who stands behind the patient and is a caregiver also suffers. They should not be criticized. They do their best but they are human beings and do get irritated sometime.
There should be an awareness that they also suffer equally in this battle of looking after patients suffering from depression.
Family members always stand by their patients and take care of them so this story in no way criticizes the people who are sick. It is just a story for people to look into the lives of caregivers also