SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- You know the warning: “Don’t burn the candle from both ends.” Or a more contemporary version: “Put on your oxygen mask first.”
Some people might consider these simply cliches, but for well-being, the adages remain potent reminders to care for one’s self. Even the busiest, most resilient person has a bending or breaking point.
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
On the Psychology Today website, burnout is defined as “a state of emotional, mental and often physical exhaustion brought on by prolonged or repeated stress.”
The risk of burnout is not just as a professional -- being a parent, a caregiver, a family member are also energy-intensive roles. There is not always a sense of accomplishment or of control. Over time, fatigue, cynicism, even exhaustion can set in.
“Burnout is not simply a result of working long hours or juggling too many tasks, though those both play a role ...” according to Psychology Today.
“Equally pressing is working toward a goal that doesn’t resonate, or when a person lacks support.” (Source: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/burnout)
Sometimes complications arise if someone feels overloaded but cannot reapportion the load. Heed stressor signals! Overeating, substance use or abuse, alcohol misuse or other self-defeating habits may tempt a weary person, but can lead to dire consequences.
Know the risks, plan, act -- and take stock of your mood and vitality often. Be kind to yourself. There is hope: Obtaining a sense of meaning and purpose is therefore a potent antidote -- as are reclaiming a degree of autonomy, control, even creativity within the tasks required.
C to C: November is National Family Caregivers Month. Courage to Caregivers is a nonprofit located in Northeast Ohio that serves caregivers nationwide. Its mission is to provide hope, support and courage to caregivers, family members and loved ones of those living with mental illness.
Courage to Caregivers will present a free interactive program, “Preventing Caregiver Burnout by Illuminating Hope,” from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 18. This virtual event will include a guided breathing meditation as an embodied experience focused on hope, and a presentation covering the evidence-based research and science that leads to instilling hope and building resilience.
Registration is available on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/preventing-caregiver-burnout-by-illuminating-hope-tickets-176629291967.
The presentation is open to family and professional caregivers who care for someone living with mental illness.
The Courage to Caregivers press release offered some important facts and figures:
· 53 million people, equivalent to 19 percent or one in five Americans, provide unpaid care to an adult or child. This has risen 3 percent in the past five years. (National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. (2020). Caregiving in the U.S.)
· 14.3 million Americans are caring for someone living with emotional and mental health issues, up 6 percent since 2015. (National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. (2020). Caregiving in the U.S.)
If any reader is currently experiencing a crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741-741.
Learn more at www.couragetocaregivers.com.
Christkindlmarkt? Did I mean to type: “Krist Kindle Markt?” Am I getting careless about typos? No -- not at all. That is a venerable German word.
Oh, now you see it!
And now it is going on -- from Oct. 21 to Dec. 27. Not just gift shopping, but shopping for many gifts from around the world. Not just “same old”; rather: “unique.” A sanctuary from status quo shopping options is in our midst!
Consider shopping from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays at the 42nd annual Christkindlmarkt from Sanctuary on Green, 1936 S. Green Road, South Euclid. Call 216-691-1936 for more information.
“We specialize in quality items created with love from our studio and around the world!” the website states. https://www.sanctuaryongreen.com
A new, creative release: Adam Rich sends mention of his latest venture, a new music release. Below is a brief excerpt from a generous email conversation. Rich wrote:
“The title ‘Peaceful & With Purpose’ comes from how Leia described Luke’s death in Star Wars. ... I remember seeing the first Star Wars movie (’Episode IV: A New Hope’) possibly the year it came out or a few years after. I was born in 1974 and it was released in 1977, so I’m not sure if I saw it when I was 3 years old.
“I do remember seeing (’The) Empire (Strikes Back)’ and (’Return of the) Jedi’ in theaters, and I was age 6 and age 9 for those.
“Though my last CD dealt with the death of my parents and was probably the darkest CD so far, this one represents coming out of that darkness/closure and starting the next chapter in my life.”
The CD will be available on www.lovemuffinrecords.com and www.adamrichmusic.net to start. Hopefully, more distribution channels will be added later, Rich shared.
Spread sun: You can brighten up this column with your contributions of good news from within the seven-city Hillcrest area. Write to mariashinestewart@gmail.com
For further news about the Hillcrest area, click on Sun Messenger.