Kristi and Jenny were invited to present their workshop: Preventing Caregiver Burnout: Understanding Stress as part of Direction Home Akron Canton Area Agency on Aging and Disabilities  Lunch & Learn Series on Wednesday, November 9 at 12:00 p.m. ET.

We often talk about feeling stressed. Understanding what causes stress, what it looks and feels like for each person, and learning ways to cope with stress can help each of us manage our daily lives. So, what is stress? Stress is defined as physical or emotional tension caused by thoughts or events. Stress is your body’s reaction to a challenge or demand. It can be helpful when it keeps you safe from harm or helps you achieve a goal but can be harmful when it lasts for a long time with no periods of relief.

Every time we solve a difficult problem, face an uncomfortable situation, or survive a crisis, we build confidence that we can do it again. You have the ability to thrive and grow as you gain coping skills and recognize your strengths and limits. Know what you can do, and know when to ask for help. You can be confident as you cope and manage the stress of daily life.

At Courage to Caregivers, we know that the stress of caregiving has been found to take ten years off of a caregivers life. Stress is literally killing us. Finding healthy coping strategies and techniques to reduce stress can ultimately prevent caregiver burnout and help caregivers reclaim ten years!