Mindfulness for Carers: How to Manage the Demands of Caregiving While Finding a Place for Yourself

by Cheryl Rezek

Overview

Carers are particularly vulnerable to feeling stressed, worried and worn down by the vast demands that often come with caregiving, be they physical, psychological or emotional. Mindfulness can be enormously beneficial to carers, whether professional or voluntary, as a means of developing greater inner stability, resilience and gaining more control over their thoughts, feelings and emotions. Mindfulness is an evidence-based approach that is proven to help protect against stress, anxiety, depression and burnout.

Dr Cheryl Rezek provides an accessible introduction to mindfulness, and explains how simple mindfulness practices and psychological concepts can be used to manage the day-to-day demands of caring effectively, helping caregivers to gain a greater sense of control and maintain a more positive and balanced outlook. The book includes easy-to-use and enjoyable mindfulness exercises, short enough to fit into a busy day, as well as accompanying audio tracks to support and guide the reader through these exercises.


An essential read for all those involved in caring for people with acute or long-term health and mental health conditions, disabilities and other support needs, including relatives and other informal carers, adoptive parents and foster carers, as well as professional medical, health and social care staff.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781784501471
Publisher:	Kingsley, Jessica Publishers
Publication date:	05/21/2015
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	96
File size:	237 KB

About the Author

Dr Cheryl Rezek is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist with an established academic and clinical career who has worked across various fields of mental health for many years. Her aim is to make psychological concepts and mindfulness easily accessible to a public audience. She lives in the UK and works internationally. Visit her website at www.lifehappens-mindfulness.com.

Table of Contents

A Note About the Text 9

Introduction 11

Part 1 Mindfulness - What is it and How Can it be of Use to Me?

1 The Hustle and Bustle of Life 15

2 What is Mindfulness? 18

3 Proof that Mindfulness Helps 22

4 No Quick Fix or Magic Wand 32

Part 2 Carer Pains and Strains

5 Carers: The Forgotten Ones 37

6 Common Carer Problems 43

7 The Stress Response 47

8 Seeing Yourself as a Whole 54

Part 3 How Can I Break the Chain?

9 Living in the Present 62

10 A Reactive Mind: Stop and Choose 65

11 Management of Distress 69

12 Self-care 73

Part 4 Staying Committed Brings Long-term Gains

13 Setting Boundaries 78

14 Resistance 81

15 The Benefits 83

About the Author 87

References 90

Editorial Reviews

A thorough introduction to how mindfulness can be a lifeline for carers. Providing relevant evidence and opportunities for practice, there is clear progress through the stages I witness clients experience - from debilitating stress to mindful awareness - greatly improving quality of life within challenging circumstances.

Elizabeth Turp BACP Accredited Counsellor and author of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME: Support for

Mindfulness for Carers addresses a subject that is both difficult and complex. Who cares for the caregiver? The author wisely answers this questions by suggesting that carers turn inward, and offers a wide variety of practical, easy to follow suggestions for practicing self-care and mindfulness.

Sandra Scheinbaum

For nurses, the value of this book is the opportunity it offers to research the subject further and to explore the effect of caregivers' resilience. Carers who manage their own long-term conditions, stresses and personal demands will also find it useful.

Nursing Older People

A thorough introduction to how mindfulness can be a lifeline for carers. Providing relevant evidence and opportunities for practice, there is clear progress through the stages I witness clients experience - from debilitating stress to mindful awareness - greatly improving quality of life within challenging circumstances.

Elizabeth Turp BACP Accredited Counsellor and author of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME: Support for