Did you know that more than 1 out of 10 adults have a child and a parent in their care? Many adults are sandwiched between catering to the unique need of the younger generation (their children) and the older generation (their parents or elderly relatives). Most fully-employed sandwich caregivers spend at least three hours of unpaid labor catering to their families.
Studies also show that 60% of multi-generational caregivers are women. These women spend, on average, 45 minutes more than the average. For people in these heavy shoes, stress is an endless battle. Multi-generational caregivers should prioritize self-care and proper nutrition.
Thankfully, there are many ways to relieve stress. This ranges from seeking help, meditating, buying multi-generational caregiver stress relief products, etc. Let's look at how stress affects the body and the different ways sandwich caregivers can reduce stress levels.
How stress affects the body.
Everyone experiences some form of strain every day. While the body does well to handle short exposures, prolonged stress has detrimental effects on the mind and the body. Most sandwich caregivers have to take care of their families for months and years, and it is more than reasonable to say that they are more stressed than average.
When the body is under stress, the brain secretes hormones such as cortisol to trigger your flight or fight response. This action invigorates the body to cope with the situation- it basically sends systems like your cardiovascular, immune, digestive, and musculature systems into overdrive. However, your body can't keep up with this level of performance for so long. If left in such a state, these systems begin to deteriorate. This can lead to a myriad of health and psychological conditions- In summary, prolonged stress has the following effects on the body;
- Increased anxiety or depression.
- Increased irritability.
- Insomnia
- Reduced or increased appetite.
- Elevated blood pressure.
- Chest pain, muscle pain
- Substance abuse.
- Weakened immunity.
How CBD can provide stress relief for sandwich caregivers.
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a natural, non-psychoactive substance found in the hemp plant. CBD has immense benefits for the body and is used medically to treat or alleviate symptoms of numerous health conditions such as anxiety, HIV, arthritis, seizures, etc.
One of the adverse effects of stress on the body is insomnia. CBD can benefit sandwich caregivers by improving sleep, elevating mood, and fighting pain. Countless anecdotal reports from users show that CBD is highly effective in combating insomnia and improving sleep quality.
CBD tinctures are some of the best sandwich caregiver CBD products online. We don't advise that you take CBD during work, it should be taken when you want to sleep or rest. Tinctures can be ingested directly or taken sublingually (beneath the tongue). You can also use CBD tincture to prepare meals or drinks.
Adults in the sandwich generation often have to juggle multiple tasks. Many parents have to prepare separate meals, book medical appointments, pick up the kids from school, etc. All these activities can cause chronic pain to develop.
Chronic pain can hinder our natural functions such as sleep. CBD provides caregivers with a natural remedy for pain. CBD-infused relief gels, sprays, or balms can be used to provide fast-acting relief from muscle soreness, joint pain, back pain, neck pain, etc.
Other tips to help stress as a sandwich caregiver.
Take good care of yourself:
Prioritizing yourself once in a while is not a selfish decision. If you are not in good shape, you can't provide adequate care for your loved ones. Feel free to use your free time to do what you genuinely enjoy. Do you have a painting or a book you haven't finished? Go out with your friends, meditate. Feel free to spoil yourself. Doing things you enjoy has therapeutic effects on the body and can reduce your stress levels.
Ask for help.
Don't be afraid to ask for help. If you have siblings living nearby, you can work out a care schedule and take turns caring for your parent. This will shave off some of the burden and increase your free time.
Eat healthily.
Prolonged stress causes the immune system works at a sub-optimal level. One of the few things you can do at such a time is to nourish your body with all essential nutrients to help your body repair worn-out tissues and synthesize healthy ones. Eating healthy reduces your chances of having an infection and boosts your immunity. Adding superfoods such as sea moss to your diet can help you eat healthily.
