CARER CONNECTIONS Edition 25 - July 2020
DEALING WITH LOCKDOWN – TIPS FROM A CARER My Disability Insights is a website created by Vivienne Armstrong, a carer who has a passion for sharing her tips and personal experiences to help other caregivers. She has cared for her son for 37 years and in that time has launched a community dedicated to helping other carers take back control of their life. Vivienne and her son live in Victoria and like many of the residents from the state, she finds herself looking at many more weeks of constraints as Victoria goes back into lockdown. “I am frustrated knowing it would not be people within our demographic flaunting safeguards,” she wrote. “As carers, we are aware that those in the community who don’t walk our path cannot be blamed for not understanding how their behaviours, including congregating against government advice, could impact us. In reality, unless you live with the responsibility of the care of someone else, you cannot possibly understand how we feel.” She offers advice on two ways to handle what is going on in our lives through this present situation, one optimal and one dysfunctional. The dysfunctional one is to live in panic and fear, no one wants to do this but it happens easily if we let our imagination run amok. Try to stick with the positive approach that has sustained you through your caring journey, you have come this far. You may just need to be reminded of a few steps to stay on track. Answer these questions to put things in perspective to give yourself a positive platform: 1. Is the media telling me constantly negative news? Do I really need to follow every news article, or should I just keep a heads up once a day? 2. How many people do I personally know who have had COVID-19 and just how sick are they? This can really make you put things in perspective. At this point in winter my son has a greater threat from circulation problems due to cold temperatures. So that is what I am concentrating on containing. Our usual care in the community will see us doing what is appropriate in all areas. No need to add more fear. 3. If the people I personally know who have had it were not seriously ill then why am I fearing the worst? Shouldn’t the reports in the news discussing how so many don’t even have symptoms and most recover without concern, give me encouragement. 4. Yes, some people get really ill but I don’t know their background, their health or age. I don’t know if they were already ill in the first place. I have no idea about how anyone who has become sick lives their lives. I only know how I live mine and about the care I take of my loved one. 5. If I am doing all the right things to protect my family I should feel safer, not vulnerable. Think of the protective strategies you put in place like a force field. The more strategies you have in place, the better prepared you are, and the quicker you can respond should you need to. “For our own mental health we must remain positive and continue doing what we know is best for those we love” Vivienne wrote. The information from this story was provided by Vivienne Armstrong. Her full blog can be found on her website, we encourage you to check it out for more handy tips and carer support: https://mydisabilityinsights.com/blog/
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