It is important to take the appropriate steps to take care of yourself so you are able to care for someone else to your full potential. Consider speaking to your GP or other health and social care professionals to find out what support is available.

Sometimes the difficult emotions of caring can change into depression. It’s not always easy to know when this is happening, bad days can merge into a blur and it can be hard to identify if you are tired or depressed.

Emotional support is available for carers, there are numerous links to support groups and networks through the NHS website as well as going through your local council. Help for carers can come through a range of different methods, whether that is speaking to someone professionally or a loved and trusted one, taking time to relax or taking a break from caring temporarily.

Taking time for yourself regularly will give you time to restore your mental and emotional threshold. Relaxation is anything that helps your body and mind slow down and switch off for a bit, and it varies for everyone. While you might think of relaxation as deep breathing, meditation and slow music, there are many other ways that you can help your mind switch off for a bit so you can restore yourself.

Whether you only have 20 minutes to listen to a podcast, maybe you find cooking relaxing or going for a brisk walk in your time off.

It is important to ensure you take the time to ensure you are able to regularly relax, especially when you are in a job like caring, with long hours and mental and physical demands, if you don’t take the time to take care of yourself you could find yourself run down, sick and at your wits end.