If you have a close friend or family member with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), you may understand that there are never enough articles about self-care for caregivers. Common pitfalls for many AD caregivers includes; exhaustion, frustration, depression and just plain wanting to give up sometimes.
Seeking out help is a must for caregivers, but what about when making a phone call to voice your complaints or attending a support group meeting every week or so just isn’t enough? What about the other 165 hours every week? The answer may be an age old spiritual practice of meditation.
Many caregivers report having a spiritual life is vital to surviving all of the challenges and obstacles of full time caregiving. Meditation can help relieve mental stress and it has been said to actually slow down our perception of time. Does this mean more hours in our day? Well not exactly, it may point more to staying in the moment, not rushing or thinking ahead and actually enjoying the little things in life. Who needs all of those perks more than an AD caregiver?
The other thing that occurs with daily practice meditation is there is more of a sense of compassion for self and others. The ability to ease up and become more patient and gentle on ourselves and everyone around us are qualities just about every caregiver could probably use at one time or another.
According to The Caregiver’s Voice, mediation and mindfulness practice results in more resilience and balance for many caregivers. “The wisdom gained through mindfulness and other contemplative practices allows us to move even closer to the suffering of others because we are also able to touch the joy that comes from providing the care that we do. That joy bolsters and sustains us in the more difficult moments.”
If you are a full time caregiver, consider taking a meditation or mindfulness class as part of your weekly self-care. If you want to learn more about Alzheimer’s disease, CLICK HERE to join our 25 topic course at AlzU.org today.
