Part Six - Widows and Self-Care

It’s easy not to pay attention to our emotional and physical health when we are grieving until there is a problem and then it’s too late.

We need to take care of ourselves because consistent stress will make us sick.  It’s not until a diagnosis of illness that we start paying attention to our own health.  This is especially true for a widow that has been a long term caregiver to her late husband.

You need to reevaluate your priorities and your decisions may upset some people but more importantly you will gain your life back. Because of your husband’s death you know how life can change in an instant.  And yet we don’t eat properly when we are upset, we skip exercise and use alcohol to help us get through the day.  This just adds to our stress and it becomes a vicious cycle.

You have to care for your body and have good health to do all that you want to do.  If we get sick, it is often a sign of just how much off balance we are.

 

Please make your health a priority before illness happens.  For self-care there is one simple change you can do in this area and that’s write in your journal.  Ask yourself these questions:

• How does my mental health (stress, depression, anger) rate from one to ten?
• Do I feel emotionally secure?
• Would it help me to see a therapist?
• What am I doing for my physical and mental well being?
• What am I doing when I feel the most relaxed?  Can I do this more often?
• What is in my life that is causing stress and can be changed?

Your emotional and physical health is everything.  You know this more than anyone else so stop and take control by writing your thoughts in your journal. As you write think about the fact that this is your life your writing about – not someone else that you have no control over.

You have spent so much time on others that you don’t realize just how strong and powerful you are.  You have so much value – step up and claim it.