The Secondary Patient - Caring For The Caregiver

Providing care for your loved one in chronic pain can be mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually draining. Often times, caregivers are referred to as "the secondary patient." As chronic pain sufferers, we are completely unprepared for how our bodies, minds, emotions, responsibilities, careers, finances, and identified roles change seemingly overnight. Similarly, a chronic pain sufferer's family is unprepared for the destructive upheaval. Unfortunately, by the time the immense stress of care-giving begins to show, the care-giver is already at great risk for "serious adverse physical and mental health consequences from their physically and emotionally demanding work as caregivers and reduced attention to their own health and health care."

In fact, NIH published a study outlining the potential health hazards of care-giving. "Caregiver burden and strain have been related to the caregiver’s own poor health status, increased health-risk behaviors (such as smoking), and higher use of prescription drugs. Researchers have reported that caregivers are at risk for fatigue and sleep disturbances, lower immune functioning, altered response to influenza shots, slower wound healing, increased insulin levels and blood pressure, altered lipid profiles, and higher risks for cardiovascular disease."

If you are new to providing care for a loved one in pain or have been doing so for years, join Founder, Certified Integrative Wellness Life Coach and Fellow Chronic Pain Sufferer, Christina H Chororos to learn how to better adopt healthier coping and, communication skills, balance your health needs and manage difficult, contending emotions, like guilt, anger, resentment and sadness.

With recent surveys estimating there are 44 million caregivers over the age of 18 years (approximately one in every five adults), you are certainly not alone. Contact us to reserve your spot at this Exclusive KCPC Event and use this as your opportunity to meet the great company you're in.

Cited Articles:

Reinhard SC, Given B, Petlick NH, et al. Supporting Family Caregivers in Providing Care. In: Hughes RG, editor. Patient Safety and Quality: An Evidence-Based Handbook for Nurses. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 2008 Apr. Chapter 14. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK2665/