How To Handle Criticism During Caregiving

By Author: Maria
Total Articles: 9
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“Once in a golden hour
I cast to earth a seed.
Up there came a flower,
The people said a weed.”
― Alfred Lord Tennyson

Yes, this is the most unfortunate truth. The poem extract speaks about the same, but some people love to criticize. It is impossible to please everyone. For a caregiver, it is vital to accept this harsh truth as soon as possible. In most situations, the responsibility of caregiving falls on a family member close to the person in need of care. While caregiving is itself stressful, things become tough for caregivers when they are criticized by their own family members and neighbors.

Sometimes, even the person for whom they have had sleepless nights make the harshest comments which further makes things more challenging than ever they could be. So, let’s learn how to handle criticism during caregiving.

Don’t bottle up your emotions

Give yourself a few minutes when someone gives out a negative comment which makes you boil from inside. The cascade of emotions should flow because bottling up the same means frustration and depression, which can seriously ...
... affect your ability to take care of your loved one. Punch a pillow, cry out loud, go for a walk or do whatever you can to release your emotions.

Try to know the reason

Every criticism is not as bad as you think. Maybe, any of your family member or someone close to you has made a remark to highlight an issue which you have failed to notice. The remark may have nothing to do with your capabilities as a caregiver. Try to know the underlying reason because this may lead you to become better in carrying out your caregiver duties.

Seek feedback

Ask the criticizer to explain how he or she could do things differently from you as a caregiver or had approached the situation. Opening a constructive dialogue often helps to ease the negative feelings and to evolve as a caregiver. Maybe you get a handful of valuable caregiving tips from the same person who is driving you nuts with negative comments.

Enjoy quiet time with friends

True friends can bring a smile on your face even when everything else is going wrong in your life. Like a magic wand, having a chit chat with your close friends or a leisurely walk can make you feel better. You will forget all the criticism quickly than you have expected!

Have a good laugh

According to some recent studies, smiling can boost your mood and immunity. It makes you feel better and at peace with yourself. So when someone criticizes, have a laugh. It will fade away all the stress associated with negative remarks.

Don’t take criticism as personal attacks. You can deal with them in a better way by following the above tips. Moreover, you can fare well if you are a member of a caregiver support community because they can understand your situation more than others. Caregiving can be a long journey. So, do not let these obstacles affect you.

Maria is an experienced caregiver who had taken care of her bed-ridden mother for more than a decade. She has a profound interest in writing informative blogs and articles that can prove helpful for other caregivers.