Mental illness stands as a pervasive global health challenge, impacting millions of individuals worldwide. Even while those suffering from these illnesses receive a lot of attention, caregivers also play a vital role in society. In the recent episode of Koffee With Karan Season 8: Episode, where Deepika opened up about her journey of mental illness, the narrative of caregiver (Ranveer Singh) and their struggle was also brought up. The unsung heroes who give people with mental health problems the crucial care, support, and direction they need are caregivers. Let's delve deeper, understanding the challenges faced by caregivers and acknowledging their invaluable contributions, drawing insights from portrayals in commercial media, such as Bollywood movies and shows.
Who are Caregivers?
For instance, you know you have an exam due on Monday and to reach the goal of completing the required syllabus you should start at least a week ahead, but you will wait till Friday or even Sunday to gather the will to even open up the books and start studying. This is known as Procrastination which is a universal challenge that many of us face. Procrastination, the art of delaying tasks, is a universal human experience. It often seems to result in feelings of anxiety, dissatisfaction, and guilt. If that's the case, why then is it so difficult to change? One explanation could be that procrastination offers advantages, just like everything else. Some people purposefully put off doing chores because they enjoy working under pressure or find deadlines intimidating. These proactive putters take charge of their time and make deliberate use of it.
An individual who extends assistance to someone grappling with mental health challenges, providing support on physical, emotional, and often financial fronts. These dedicated caregivers, whether friends, family members, or professionals, willingly contribute their time and commitment to help navigate and improve the lives of those affected. Mental illness, a non-discriminatory force, affects individuals of all ages, genders, and backgrounds. Conditions like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, and others necessitate consistent care and support. Caregivers play a multifaceted role, offering not only practical assistance but also emotional support. They actively engage in overseeing medication routines, accompany their loved ones to therapy sessions, and vigilantly monitor their overall well-being. In essence, caregivers serve as pillars of strength, enhancing the quality of life for those contending with mental health issues.
The portrayal of caregivers is also shown in the movie “Taare Zameen Par" (2007), the life of a dyslexic child, Ishaan, and the unwavering support he receives from his art teacher, Ram Shankar Nikumbh is clearly visible. The movie beautifully portrays how a dedicated teacher can be a caregiver, guiding the child through his struggles. The struggle of his mother is also portrayed in the movie. Overall, this movie beautifully depicts the struggles the immediate caregiver can have, while an outsider explains the importance of being sensitive and patient. Caregivers are not always blood relatives; they can be mentors, teachers, or friends.
The Caregivers Journey:
Deciding to become a caregiver: Initial Phase Making the decision to become a caregiver is frequently a crucial first step in the caregiving process. This is an extremely personal choice that is frequently motivated by love, compassion, and a strong sense of duty. When someone is in need, caregivers choose to help them, frequently at the price of their own wants and desires.
Early on in the caring process, uncertainty and misunderstanding are common. The diagnosis of a loved one may be causing caregivers to struggle, and they may be unsure of how best to help them. The responsibilities of caregiving, which include scheduling appointments, handling medicine, and offering emotional support, could potentially be overwhelming them
It's critical that individuals providing care put their own health first in the beginning. This includes consuming a balanced diet, getting enough sleep, and working out frequently. Finding time for leisure and hobbies that caretakers love is also crucial.
The learning curve: Middle Phase
Here, there is a high learning curve involved in being a caretaker. A plethora of information regarding the patient's condition, available medical treatments, and optimal caregiving techniques must be acquired by supporters. This part of the trip can be difficult since carers may need to learn how to take care of a range of physical and emotional requirements, manage medications, and attend doctor's appointments.
Caregivers may begin to learn coping skills and sickness management techniques as the caring process advances. Additionally, they might begin to feel more at ease in their position and more assured of their capacity to offer assistance.
But providing care in the middle phase might often be difficult. New obstacles for carers could include managing a loved one's medical changes or managing pharmaceutical adverse effects.
In the intermediate phases, it's critical that caregivers keep putting their own health first. They ought to keep looking to others for assistance as well. As it is an exhausting stage to be in, to not only take care of others but themselves. In the film “15 Park Avenue" (2005), the story of Meethi, who suffers from schizophrenia and the lives of the people surrounding the patient is portrayed in a sensible manner. We can see the difficulties of a strong-willed caregiver (especially her sister- Anjali), including the strain it places on the caregiver's life and relationships (she puts her relationship with her colleague on hold to take care of Meethi).
If we take another example, the journey of caregivers is beautifully portrayed in “Margarita with a Straw" (2014) where the story of Laila, a young woman who has cerebral palsy, and her mother is shown. The movie beautifully showcases the caregiver's journey, including the emotional rollercoaster, sacrifices, and resilience required to support a loved one with a disability.
Emotional Roller-coaster Ride: The Later Phase
The journey of the care providers is characterized by a multitude of emotions. Moments of hope, despair, joy, frustration, and love are experienced by caregivers. The emotional rollercoaster can be especially difficult to ride because caregivers have to learn how to control their emotions while still offering steadfast support. Managing a loved one's illness as it develops can present challenges for carers in the later stages of caregiving. In addition, they might have to decide whether to put their loved one in a long-term care facility or not, among other healthcare-related decisions.
For carers, the later phases of caregiving can be emotionally taxing. They might feel guilty, enraged, and grieving. It's critical that carers keep asking for help from others during this period.
It can be heartbreaking to see someone else suffer, therefore care givers need to learn appropriate coping mechanisms to handle their feelings and create a balance in their life.
Balancing personal life vs Caregiving
Care providers frequently find themselves balancing between their personal lives with their caregiving responsibilities, like walking a tightrope. The demands of caregiving may occasionally take precedence over the needs of the career, making this delicate balancing act incredibly difficult. Caregivers need to learn how to safeguard their own health and happiness because they cannot effectively care for others while ignoring their own needs.
Despite the challenges, caregiving can also be a rewarding and fulfilling experience. Caregivers may find joy in:
· witnessing their loved one's progress · knowing that they are making a difference in their loved one's life · developing a deeper connection with their loved one · learning new skills and knowledge about mental health · helping to reduce stigma associated with mental illness
The Value of Personal Care
An essential component of the caregiver's journey is self-care. Prioritizing their own health is essential for carers to deliver the highest quality of care. A wide range of activities can be included in self-care practices, such as asking for help when needed, taking breaks, using relaxation techniques, and managing stress. It's critical to recognise the value of self-care in order to avoid career burnout.
Challenges faced by Caregivers.
Emotional Toll or Burnout
When caretakers watch their loved one’s struggle with mental health issues, they frequently endure extreme emotional stress. The psychological cost entails depressive, hopeless, frustrated, and occasionally guilty feelings. It can be extremely upsetting to see someone close to you suffer, and caregivers may find it difficult to maintain their own emotional equilibrium. This can eventually lead to burnout. Symptoms of burnout may include exhaustion, feelings of hopelessness, irritability, and a decreased sense of personal accomplishment. Recognizing the signs of burnout is crucial, as it can lead to severe health problems for the caregiver.
Stigma and Discrimination
Stigma and discrimination related to mental health issues persist in society. Because mental health conditions are socially stigmatized, carers may experience mistreatment, misinterpretation, or social isolation. Caretakers may find it more difficult to communicate honestly and ask for help because of this added stress.
Media is one of the most persuasive tools for people to actually come across such issues and make them understand these problems do exist one the most acclaimed movie one can remember in the commercial media was “Barfi” (2012) while the movie primarily focuses on their love story, it also highlights the role of caregivers in their lives. The characters played by Ranbir Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra bring attention to the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities and the caregivers who support them as well as people with disabilities being caregivers which is a fresh perspective that can not only bring attention but also educate populations.
Financial Strain
Treating a patient with mental health problems can be extremely expensive. This covers costs for prescription drugs, counseling, and, occasionally, modifying one's way of life. Stress related to money can make things more difficult overall, particularly for caregivers who must juggle caregiving duties with employment or other obligations. “3- Idiots” even though it was a comic movie, an instance in the movie the character of Raju Rastogi, portrayed by Sharman Joshi, undergoes significant challenges that serve as an example of the struggles faced by caregivers. He is burdened with financial difficulties, and he sees his education as the key to improving their economic situation. Caregivers, particularly in economically challenged situations, often face the pressure of providing for their families, sometimes at the expense of their own dreams and mental well-being.
Lack of Recognition and Support
When friends, family, or the larger community fail to understand their situation, caregivers may feel alone and unsupported. Sometimes the important contributions made by carers go unnoticed, and this can make them feel even more stressed and worn out.
Communication Barriers
It can be difficult to communicate with someone who is struggling with mental health issues. It can be difficult for carers to comprehend the feelings and needs of the people they love, which can cause misunderstandings and frustration. Relationships may suffer and the caregiving process may be hampered.
Handling Crisis Situations
Emergency situations or sudden flare-ups of mental health problems can present challenges for carers. Managing these circumstances demands quick thinking and composure, which can be stressful. The movie "Paa" serves as a touching example of a caregiver coping with a crisis situation. Vidya's character epitomizes the strength and resilience required to navigate the complexities of caregiving, especially when faced with a rare and challenging medical condition. The movie emphasizes the value of advocacy, love, and support as a carer navigates difficult circumstances.
Asking for help
A lot of caretakers are embarrassed to ask for assistance from others. They believe that they must take on the entire carer role and that seeking help could be interpreted as a sign of weakness. Consequently, the care provider begins to feel bad for not giving the best care possible.
In order to give caregivers the support they need, it is imperative that these issues be recognised and addressed. Raising awareness, lessening stigma, and highlighting resources for caretakers support can help foster a more accepting atmosphere for those who are vital to the wellbeing of people struggling with mental health issues.
Seeking Support and Resources
As it has been amazingly said by Helen Keller- "Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much”. So, seeking assistance and resources can significantly impact a caregiver's ability to provide effective care while maintaining their own well-being.
Support Groups
Those who are facing comparable difficulties can connect, exchange experiences, and offer support to one another in career support groups. These online or in-person groups foster a sense of community, lessen feelings of loneliness, and provide helpful guidance. Taking a Hollywood movie example here: In the movie "Silver Linings Playbook," the characters attend a support group for individuals and caregivers dealing with various mental health challenges. The group becomes a source of understanding and shared experiences.
Mental Health Services
To alleviate the emotional strain of providing care, caregivers may find it helpful to seek professional mental health services. Psychologists, counselors, and therapists can offer carers a secure environment in which to process emotions, work through problems, and create coping mechanisms. There are crisis counseling services available where one can chat or even have a phonic conversation.
Respite Care or taking a break
In order to avoid burnout, caregivers must take breaks. To give carers time to relax and tend to their own needs, respite care provides them with short-term relief. This can entail having friends, family, or hired carers fill in for a while.
Legal and Financial Advice
Navigating healthcare systems and handling the financial facets of caregiving are two areas in which carers may encounter legal and financial difficulties. Consulting experts or groups that specialize in these fields can be very important.
In conclusion
Caregivers in mental illness are the unsung heroes who provide unwavering support to individuals battling these conditions. They play a difficult, demanding, and emotionally taxing role. To create a society that is more understanding and compassionate, it is imperative to acknowledge the challenges faced by carers and to appreciate their significance in mental health. We can strive towards a future where carers receive the resources, support, and acknowledgement they require to carry out their essential work by bringing attention to the important role they play and the difficulties they encounter.