How to care for others without losing yourself

We all have either people or animals counting on us to care for them, feed them, show them love and support.

But what happens when this is all you do, and you begin to feel lost or overwhelmed?

You no longer recognize who you are anymore. You feel like a shell of who you once were. How do you get YOU back? Here are a few tips that may help you find that lost person inside.

  • Set boundaries for those around you. Learn to say no or delegate things to others who can help while giving you even a short break.

  • Find someone who can support you energetically and emotionally to keep you balanced and in a good place.

  • Start giving yourself kind and gentle pep talks in the mirror. “You can do this.” “You got this.” “You’re worth it.” “Don’t get down on yourself, everyone has bad days.”

  • Change your mindset. Start concentrating on everything that’s good. Create a gratitude journal. What was the best thing that happened today? What was the nicest comment you heard today? Who made you feel great about yourself? The more you start concentrating on the positive things in life— including appreciating yourself as a caregiver— the more positivity comes your way.

  • Do the little things that really make you smile and feel good.

  • Go for a walk or some other form of exercise, this can not only help you clear your head but can give you time to practice positive self-talk.

Granted these are ways to get yourself and sanity back, but how do you still care for others and without losing yourself in the process?

Many people are dealing with caring for a parent or partner. Caring for a sick relative or friend. Caring for a sick or elderly pet that needs your attention. Or simply doing too much for others while leaving yourself behind. Either way, these tips— and signals to watch for in yourself— can still help you care for those you love while keeping your sanity and self in place.

  • Know your limits and pay attention to your body and your energy level. Are you not sleeping? Are you not eating? Are you eating junk food to cope? Are you getting sick all the time?

  • Find support groups that may help you vent and connect with others going through the same thing as you. Many times, these groups can be quite healing when you are the caregiver.

  • Don’t take on more than you can handle. Get help from others to help you with tasks that you simply don’t have the time or energy to do. Find a maid to clean mom’s house. Hire a moving company to pack up your parents’ house. Ask a trusted neighbor to watch your pets while you care for your sick sister for a week.

  • Find an Energy Medicine practitioner to help you release the emotions you may be harboring and get yourself back in balance.

There are resources out there and they can be found quite easily by simply Googling it, utilizing Chat GPT or asking someone for help. The sooner you establish your boundaries and find the help you need the easier it will be for you to better manage your caregiving role and situation while keeping yourself intact.

If you need an Energy Medicine Practitioner, I welcome you to get in touch with me, Carolyn Osborn.

Here’s to you and staying positive for yourself.

Carolyn Osborn

Discover a Natural Well-Being and Oneness within the Body, Mind and Spirit, that awaits you and your animal.

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P.S. Animals are often our closest companions. We invite you to use something unique we have just published; this very practical tool to help you discover if your animal has a message for you, or needs help. Take our Quiz: How Well Do You Know Your Pet’s Alerts? it’s free. Learn more, and click to get it here.

Other resources for you:

Our newest program is featured right on our website homepage or in our sessions menu: Chiron Mirror Sessions • Tandem Energy Healing for You and Your Animal. It is designed to help you discover a natural well-being and oneness within the body, mind and spirit that awaits you and your animal— when you are guided to release unwanted behaviors and unconscious memories and patterns of suppressed vitality and difficult energy blocks that may trigger dis-ease or imbalances if left unattended.

See or learn more about our sessions and packages for people or animals here and view our equine and performance sessions or packages here.