Family and Consumer Sciences

Live Smart Ohio

Ohio State University Extension

Self-care for the Caregiver

Caregivers often have self-imposed expectations, pressuring them to feel they should be able to handle every situation that they encounter with little or no support or assistance. There is this tremendous pressure to “do it all,” taking care of children and aging parents while maintaining a career and the home. Instead of having a sense […]

WRITTEN BY: Dr. Roseanne Scammahorn, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Darke County, Scammahorn.5@osu.edu

REVIEWED BY: Kellie Lemly, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Champaign County, lemly.2@osu.edu

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • sarcifilippo from Pixabay

SOURCES:

  • The Caregiver Toolbox: Guide to Independent Living - http://www.coaaa.org/cms/images/docs/guides/COAAA_Caregiver_Toolbox.pdf
  • 10 Tips for Family Caregivers - https://caregiveraction.org/resources/10-tips-family-caregivers
  • Care Community - https://caregiveraction.org/forum
  • Defining The Help You Need - https://caregiveraction.org/defining-help-you-need
  • Depression - https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml
  • Strategies for Coping with Caregiver Stress - https://www.agingcare.com/articles/strategies-for-coping-with-caregiver-stress-135916.htm

REFERENCES:

  • Area Agency of Aging (2018). The Caregiver Toolbox: Guide to Independent Living. Retrieved February 6, 2020, from http://www.coaaa.org/cms/images/docs/guides/COAAA_Caregiver_Toolbox.pdf
  • Aging In Place (February 2020). Caregiver Burnout. Retrieved February 6, 2020, from https://www.aginginplace.org/caregiver-burnout/
  • Caregiver Action Network. (2020). 10 Tips for Family Caregivers. Retrieved February 6, 2020, from https://caregiveraction.org/resources/10-tips-family-caregivers
  • Caregiver Action Network. (2020). Care Community. Retrieved April 17, 2020, from https://caregiveraction.org/forum
  • Caregiver Action Network. (2020). Defining The Help You Need. Retrieved April 17, 2020, from https://caregiveraction.org/defining-help-you-need
  • Caregiver Action Network. (2020). RESPITE: Time Out for Caregivers. Retrieved April 17, 2020, from https://caregiveraction.org/respite-time-out-caregivers-part-1
  • National Institute of Mental Health, (2018). Depression. Retrieved on April 17, 2020, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml
  • Sollitto, M. (October 2019). Strategies for Coping with Caregiver Stress. Retrieved February 20, 2020, from https://www.agingcare.com/articles/strategies-for-coping-with-caregiver-stress-135916.htm
  • Smith, M. (October 2019). Caregiver Stress and Burnout. Retrieved February 6, 2020, from https://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/caregiver-stress-and-burnout.htm

Finding Help When Feeling Hopeless

Suicide is an uncomfortable subject and one we do not talk about frequently. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States.  It is the second leading cause of death for individuals ages 10-34. September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. It is a time […]

WRITTEN BY: Lorrissa Dunfee, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Belmont County, dunfee.54@osu.edu

REVIEWED BY: Misty Harmon, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Perry County, harmon.416@osu.edu

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • https://pixabay.com/illustrations/depression-voices-self-criticism-1250870/

SOURCES:

  • “Risk of Suicide.” NAMI, Aug. 2019, www.nami.org/learn-more/mental-health-conditions/related-conditions/suicide.
  • “Suicide.” National Institute of Mental Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Apr. 2019, www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/suicide.shtml#part_154971.
  • “Suicide Statistics.” AFSP, 16 Apr. 2019, afsp.org/about-suicide/suicide-statistics.

How I Deal with SAD

SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder, is a type of depression that some people experience during the winter months when there is less natural sunlight. Symptoms vary from person to person but may include: Feelings of  Sadness Anxiousness Emptiness Hopelessness Pessimism Guilt Worthlessness Helplessness Irritability Restlessness Fatigue and decreased energy Difficulty concentrating, remembering details and making […]

WRITTEN BY: Jenny Lobb, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension Franklin County

REVIEWED BY: Jami Dellifield, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension Hardin County

SOURCES:

  • Habig, A. (2016). Winter physical activity: Don’t hibernate, participate! Live Smart Ohio. http://livesmartohio.osu.edu/food/habig-13osu-edu/winter-physical-activity-dont-hibernate-participate/
  • Harvard Medical School (2009). Exercise and depression. http://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/exercise-and-depression-report-excerpt
  • Mayo Clinic (2014). Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Coping and support. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/basics/coping-support/con-20021047
  • MedlinePlus (2014). Seasonal Affective Disorder. National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://medlineplus.gov/seasonalaffectivedisorder.html
  • Melrose, S. (2015). Seasonal Affective Disorder: An overview of assessment and treatment approaches. Depression Research and Treatment. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4673349/
  • National Institute of Mental Health (2016). Seasonal Affective Disorder. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/seasonal-affective-disorder/index.shtml

Sometimes Life Is Hard

Local news outlets are reporting an increase in suicide completions by young people.  Two contributing factors for this alarming increase are that more children (as early as eight years old), teens, and young adults are suffering from anxiety and depression.  Other youth and young adults are engaging in self-harming behaviors such as cutting, plucking, eating disorders, sexual promiscuity and/or binge drinking. When we […]

WRITTEN BY: Jami Dellifield, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Hardin County

REVIEWED BY: Donna Green, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Erie County, green.308@osu.edu

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • http://creatingcommunitysolutions.org/texttalkact
  • https://pixabay.com/en/mental-health-mental-health-cloud-1389919/

SOURCES:

  • http://www.samhsa.gov/
  • www.mentalhealth.gov
  • www.youth.gov
  • https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/cs/
  • http://creatingcommunitysolutions.org/texttalkact
  • http://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Mental-Health-By-the-Numbers

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