What To Do When Sickness Strikes
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Not everything in life is entirely predictable, and almost all of us have dealt with difficult things that were completely unanticipated in our otherwise happy, cozy lives. Sickness and injuries are things that can strike at the drop of the hat, stemming from a moment of unluckiness or a moment of misfortune. You can eat healthily and still have a heart attack, or live for forty years without smoking and still get lung cancer – a lot of the time, your health is simply the luck – or bad luck – of the drawer. So if sickness strikes your family, here are some ways for you to cope with it.
Financially
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A lot of the time, sickness can have a direct impact on your family finances. If the family breadwinner is sick and they can’t work then obviously your incomings will go down dramatically, and if you have to take time off work to look after a sick child or parent then you’ll be losing out on money too. Likewise, if you have to to take on a caregiving role in the evenings then you may have to pay for babysitting for your kids, along with transportation to a hospital or medical center and countless other expenses that you might never have considered before illness hit your life. First of all, talk to a lawyer who specialises in your area (for instance, a drug injury lawyer) to find out what you’re entitled to, and then talk to your employer. Hopefully you’ll be able to figure out a solution.
Physically
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When you’re a caregiver, it can be very easy to let yourself get exhausted and run down. Spending nights sleeping in chairs by hospital bedsides can be bad for your back and of course your sleep. The most important thing to do is make sure that you get breaks every now and then, even though that might be easier said than done. Try to keep stretching – if you’ve never tried yoga before, now is the time to start. Make sure that you get a couple of nights in a good comfortable bed each week, and most importantly, get outside as much as you can to inhale that fresh air and clear your head. There are few things that are quite as reviving as walking through a park and looking at fresh flowers sprouting from the earth, blossoms on the trees, and birds freewheeling through the sky.
Psychologically
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Finally, dealing with sickness in your family is incredibly psychologically and emotionally taxing. If help is offered to you, a friend offering to make dinner or do your laundry or drop your kids at school, take it gratefully – don’t be too proud to let your loved ones do what they can to help you. Keep yourself informed by talking to the medical team, but don’t do too much googling. There are a lot of horror stories online that you probably don’t want to read too much about – remember that every case is individual. Finally, make sure that you go to see a counselor every now and then so you can release some of your emotions productively.