At just 17, Crystal has already spent six years caring for her mum, who lives with a complex range of health conditions including Addison’s disease, type 1 diabetes, epilepsy, autoimmune disorders, Crohn’s disease and more recently, the early stages of palliative care.
Crystal’s daily life is full of responsibility as a young adult carer. She provides personal care such as washing, dressing, catheter care, and PEG feeding. She manages medication, supports her mum in and out of her wheelchair, accompanies her on A&E visits, and provides emotional support as her mum’s speech becomes affected due to recent difficulties with facial numbness. Alongside this, Crystal runs the household – cooking, cleaning, shopping, managing benefits, and organising appointments.
Despite everything she does, Crystal continues her animal care studies at college. But late-night hospital visits and the demands of her caring role often mean missing classes. Like many young adult carers, this has affected her education, social life, and confidence. In Crystal’s case, this has also led to her developing anxiety when away from home.
Crystal shared:
“I rarely go out or do anything social – I stay at home almost every day. It’s difficult being away from home because of my anxiety and needing to make sure Mum is okay.”
Finding support through Carers First
Crystal first connected with Carers First when one of our team recognised her caring responsibilities during a school open evening. Following a review with Diane, one of our Carer Support Advisers, she was offered a wellbeing payment for fidget and anxiety toys to support her mental health.
The impact was immediate: “The fidget toys have helped me with my anxiety when travelling, kept me calm, and stopped me getting overstressed to the point I feel ill. They help with my leg shaking, concentration, and focus, and they help me relax.”
Through regular conversations, Crystal has been able to open up about her worries and feelings. Her mum has noticed the difference too:
“Crystal’s happy she got to offload. She was confused about my palliative care, but having someone to talk to has really helped her process what’s happening. I’m so grateful she has this opportunity to share her feelings with the team.”
Crystal knows how isolating caring can feel, and she wants others in her position to know they are not alone:
“It’s okay to feel guilt, stress, anger or sadness – these are normal feelings when you’re under pressure. If it gets too much, no matter how big or small the problem is, ask for help. Don’t feel embarrassed about how you feel and don’t bottle it up.”
If you or someone you know is a young adult carer, Carers First is here to help. Get in touch with our team today to find out more about the advice and support available.
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