Taking care of a heroin addict can be a difficult job and can take its toll on the caregiver. It is a stressful journey that you have to take with your loved one. Although care giving is a noble and satisfying job, it also saps your energy when you have to be on your feet at all times. It requires you to be present with the patient in every step he takes and to cater to all his medical and psychological needs. It is a constant physical and emotional strain on the caregiver. He may experience tension headaches, body aches, weight loss and depression. The constant pressure of being sufficient for the addict can drive a caregiver insane, and many succumb to drug abuse themselves. It is very important to help a heroin addict, but it is equally important to help yourself too. You cannot help anyone unless you are in a sane frame of mind and have a healthy body to combat all the stresses.
It is a commonly observed phenomenon that people who play their roles as caregivers for heroin addicts tend to lose themselves in the long, tedious journey. They start neglecting themselves, their physical appearances become disheveled, they lose their appetite and eat irregularly causing them to either lose or gain weight. They neglect their medical problems and start falling ill frequently, or many of them become victim to depression or experience other behavioral problems. They also isolate themselves by avoiding company, become fatigued or anxious, and their normal functioning is disrupted. It is very important to take good care of oneself to help others. If you are not in a healthy state of mind, then you will not be beneficial to a loved one who needs you. There are several key points that the caregiver should keep in mind, which will help him and the person depending on him.
Identify yourself as a caregiver:
First and the foremost is that a person should identify his role as a caregiver and understand that he is not just a family member or loved one who is playing his part. He has a very important task of supporting and helping an addict and his presence is crucial for the patient. To accomplish that he needs to have a healthy body and properly functioning mind. He also needs to take complete care of himself to be fit for the task. A heroin addict is totally dependent on the caregiver, so it is very important for a caregiver, to be there for him with a fully functioning body and mind.
Seek medical help:
If you think that all the strain of helping an addict and being there for him all the time is getting to you, seek professional help. You should realize that you are a human being yourself, and your mind needs to relax too. It cannot work all the time. A psychologist may be able to help you understand your problems. He may help if you are going into depression or experiencing behavioral changes. Counseling sessions help to relieve all the strain of care giving and will improve functioning abilities.
Self-care:
It is vital for a caregiver to understand the needs of his body. Adequate diet and exercise help you concentrate better. Skipping meals and starving yourself lead to weight loss and difficulty in focusing and decision-making. Regular exercise helps you stay active and alert. It is very important that the caregiver takes some time off to perform activities that will ease off his stresses and relax him.
A caregiver has a pivotal role in the treatment of a heroin addict. He needs to be stable both medically and emotionally to provide better care and support for a loved one who is in dire need of that.
