Explore how stress affects you as a carer, helpful strategies you can use to cope, managing relationships and how to boost your self-esteem and relax
Carers First, working in partnership with North Kent Mind is offering young carers and families in Medway the opportunity to attend our new Family Empowerment Workshops. The workshops which take a whole-family approach, provide space for young carers to learn more about looking after yourself while supporting someone with mental health needs.
The programme consists of four workshops:-
- 9th September
- 14th October
- 11th November
- 9th December
Families who attend all four sessions will receive a £50 John Lewis voucher.
The workshops will help build rapport and confidence and create a sense of belonging, reducing feelings of loneliness. Families will reconnect for the final hour and be encouraged to participate in a fun, informal cooking activity. This will provide space for peer support and learning new practical skills. Research highlights that food can contribute to the development, prevention, and management of mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety disorders (Mind, 2021).
The workshop will also support the cared-for to alleviate any guilt associated with their mental health needs and the caring responsibility of the young or young adult carer. It will also provide opportunities for the development of peer support for families.
Further information about the programme
Session 1
Learn about how stress and anxiety affect you as a carer and the implications stress can have on your physical and mental health.
Session 2
Learn helpful strategies you can use to cope with challenging situations, enabling you to feel more in control and empowered to cope well.
Session 3
Learn how to best manage relationships with family and friends when caring ensuring that you have time for others who are important in your life.
Session 4
Learn tips and advice on how to boost your self-esteem and relax, making the most of the time you have for yourself and with others.
How does stress affect us?
When we're feeling anxious or worried, our body releases stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. This can sometimes be helpful to us in some situations, helping us to get things done or feel more motivated. But it might also cause physical symptoms too, such as a faster heartbeat, sweating or feeling nauseous.
The consistent and ongoing increase in heart rate, and the elevated levels of stress hormones and of blood pressure, can take a toll on the body. This long-term ongoing stress can increase the risk for more serious conditions - like heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, and depression. Taking on a caring role can be challenging, with many carers experiencing high levels of stress due to their responsibilities, it is important that we understand how stress affects us and how we can try our best to prevent, reduce and manage stress by using and developing healthy, productive coping strategies that boost our self-esteem and help us to relax.
Empowering families through ‘Effective Stress Management’
Effective stress management helps us to break the hold stress has on our life, so we can be happier, healthier, more resilient and able to manage well under pressure and meet challenges faced day-today, head on. Stress management is not a one-size-fits-all process, and it is key to experiment, to find out what coping strategies work best for you.
Sessions will focus on Tackling Stress, Negative Thoughts, Anxious Thoughts and Learning to Relax. Each will begin with 2.5hours of group support. Carers will breakout into a separate group from the cared-for to learn new skills, identify triggers and develop effective coping strategies. Practical activities will enable them to make and take-home glitter bottles, worry/happy jars and relaxation jars to express their emotions.