8 Great Ways To Take Good Care Of A Struggling Friend Or Family Member

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In this life, we are going to be hit with amazing events. We’re going to experience things that are beyond our wildest dreams and fantasies. Life is fantastic and we should enjoy the moments we have on this planet. The balance of life means that we’ll have equally significant lows during our tenure here. This rollercoaster of life can really hit us hard when negative instances appear. So it’s a case of making the most of what we have in order to really cherish the days. 

You can be hit with big problems out of the blue or if we’re not careful, but so can those you love. Whenever fear strikes us in life, we often think selfishly and consider how we as individuals will be affected. The impact is even heavier when it’s someone we care about, though. When something hits you, the overwhelming feel of control takes over and you feel as though you’ll be able to battle. When it’s someone else, the control is entirely away from you. 

So, if you have someone in your life going through a physical or mental problem and you feel as though you should help, then don’t be afraid to volunteer your time. It will always be appreciated. Whether you’re helping someone with a crippling Autoimmune Disorder or taking the hand of someone with a few mental issues to contend with, your love and affection will be so very helpful. 

A lot of people don’t really know what to say or do whenever they’re called in to help another, however. The idea of caring for someone else can be quite daunting if you’ve never done it before. The good thing is that we’re all naturally caregivers and we learn very quickly what we should do. If you need a few points as to the basics, then here are some ideas right now: 

Be As Present As You Can  

At the end of the day, if you’re there for them, then that will typically be enough. Obviously, someone might need a favor, an ear to talk to, or a shoulder to cry on, by someone’s presence is always helpful. If they know they can rely on you to be there for them, then they’re going to feel so much better about what they’re going through. They’ll know that you’re not going to be the ultimate nurse or housekeeper and that you’ll have your flaws, but it doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme. It’s the thought that counts, so be sure to put your thoughts into their situation.

Make Sure Their Diet And Energy Levels Are Good

You don’t have to be the next celebrity chef in order to keep them healthy, but watching over their diet and allowing their diet to be healthier will help out a lot. Whatever we eat obviously matters a lot, and we often let things slip a little when we’re in a tough spot mentally and physically. Cook with them if you can and teach them all about the right things – if they’re unaware, that is, of course. Just making sure they get at least three good square meals a day should be the bare minimum of your efforts here. Not eating or eating too much can only have negative connotations as you move forward. 

Allow Them To Do As Much For Themselves As They Can

This goes without saying, but you’re going to want to make sure that they’re taking part in as much as possible. It’s nice to sit around for a while and let others do things for you, but when it happens too much, it can be quite frustrating. Be sure to assist in certain aspects, but don’t be too overbearing and make sure that they’re keeping as active as possible. They may be suffering a little, but they’re not completely useless and invalid. They’ll still be able to do most things as well as they could before. They’ll feel a lot better with a sense of accomplishment, so allow them to succeed in things. 

Keep Them In A Good Place Mentally 

If you’re positive around them, then it’s only going to make them feel positive, too. It can take a while as it’s a habit that is formed over time, but it’s a great way of making someone feel a lot better mentally. If you’re just negative all of the time, then they’re going to feel bad around you most of the time. If they feel optimistic and ready for anything, then it’s going to make the whole ordeal way easy to process and handle. Not everyone is into the likes of mindfulness, meditation, and other similar methods, but it wouldn’t hurt to try new things like these with them. 

Listen

A big flaw that a lot of people possess is the inability to take in what someone else is saying to them. They tell them that they’ll be there for them, but that only really lasts for an hour or two. Listening skills are so vital in life and they can benefit another person so much. So, make sure you take in what another person says and treat each issue with the same kind of seriousness. Don’t just brush off what is being said to you as it could be extremely significant. 

Keep Yourself In Good Condition Along The Way

You cannot pour from an empty glass – as the old adage goes. While it’s noble to give all of your energy to another person, you need to make sure you’re in the right place to do so. Make sure you’re replenished mentally, physically, and emotionally before you look to help another person out. 

Don’t Patronize Or Look Down On Them

It’s very easy to look down on another person when they’re in a vulnerable or compromising position. If you aren’t used to this kind of caregiving, then it can be easy to say the wrong thing at the wrong time and to make them feel worse. Make sure you’re treating them pretty much exactly the same as if they were 100% healthy and fine. Even the slightest of references can put another person down.