Being a caregiver is stressful, so it is important to keep your stress levels under control. Some signs that you may be overly stressed from your caregiving responsibilities include:  Often feeling tired, fatigued, overwhelmed, worried, irritable, angry, or sad. Not getting enough sleep. Losing or gaining weight without trying. Not feeling interested in doing things you used to enjoy. Feeling achy or in pain much of the time. Taking drugs (illegal or prescription) or drinking to feel better. Reaching out for help when you have too much on your plate is an essential coping strategy for caregivers. If you feel overwhelmed, be sure to tell a friend or family member and ask for help. Try saying something like, “I am having a hard time getting everything done today. Can you please some and help me for an hour or two?”  You might consider making a list of your daily tasks, too. This by itself can be a good way to cope. You can also use it to delegate things to people who offer to help you.  For example, you might include items on the list such as “make dinner,” “take out the trash,” “do the dishes,” “give Sue a bath,” and “tidy up the bathroom.” List as many of your daily or weekly to-do items as you can think of on the list so that people who want to help you can easily pick something to do to help you out. Try finding help online, as well. Online organizing tools allow caregivers to post requests for help with things like meds, meals, and doctor’s appointments. You can also search the national respite locator to find a respite service near you. Talking to other people who understand what you are experiencing can help you to cope with your situation. Look for a stroke survivor caregiver group or a general caregiver group in your area. Connecting with other caregivers will give you a chance to share your experiences and hear about the experiences of other people.  You may also learn about different coping techniques people have tried and gain insight for your own situation based on what has worked for other people. Ask your doctor for information on caregiver support groups in your area. The emotional weight of caring for someone who has survived a stroke can be hard to handle on your own. If you are having trouble managing your emotions, then you may want to talk with someone who can help you, such as a therapist. Ask your doctor for information on therapists in your area. . Your physical health can affect your emotional well-being. To ensure that you are as emotionally healthy as possible, make sure that you are doing things to ensure good physical health, such as:   Eating healthy foods.  Exercising regularly. Drinking plenty of water.  Getting adequate rest. Making time for relaxation or  meditation every day.

Summary: Watch for signs of stress from caregiving. Ask for help when you feel overwhelmed. Find a support group. Consider seeing a therapist. Take good care of yourself


Brushing your hair when it’s wet with a comb or a regular brush can cause it to become frizzy as it dries. Instead, flip your head over when your hair is dry and use a boar bristle brush to detangle your hair. This will help to distribute the natural oils on your scalp to the rest of your hair. Ionic heat styling tools encourage hydration by injecting negative ions into your hair. When your hair is wet, it is positively charged. An ionic hair dryer, for example, will help your hair to soak in moisture instead of pulling moisture out of your hair. Make sure that your hair is 100% dry before you use a curling iron or straightener, in order to avoid burning and damaging your hair. It’s best to let your hair air dry completely, but if you’re in a hurry, blowing it dry before you use styling tools is much better than styling it when it’s still damp. Stay away from wet-to-dry styling tools. Although they claim to be designed to style and dry your hair at the same time, they’ll likely still damage and dry out your hair. Heat styling tools, such as curling irons, flat irons, and blow dryers, can have a drying effect on hair. To keep your tools from drying your hair out, apply a heat protectant spray to the length of your hair beforehand. This will also keep your hair shiny and minimize frizziness. If your hair is dry, it’s best to avoid heat styling tools, such as flat irons, as much as possible. If you just can’t stay away, turn the heat down to minimize the damage done to your hair. Use your heat styling products on the lowest setting.  There are also many ways that you can straighten your hair without using heat. Try using a straightening hair mask or sleeping with jumbo rollers in your hair at night. If you want curls, consider swapping your curling iron for rollers. They have a similar effect and are less damaging. Consider wearing your hair in a messy bun, a tight ballerina bun, or a french braid from time to time instead of using heat styling tools. Dyeing your hair can be extremely damaging, and can make it look weak and dry. If you’re wanting to fix your dry hair, you’ll need to take a step back from dyeing it to give it some time to become healthy again.  If you can’t stay away from the hair dye, consider talking to your stylist about ammonia-free and demi-permanent dye formulas that aren’t as harsh on your hair. Stay away from harsh bleaches while you restore your hair’s health.
Summary: Brush your hair with a boar bristle brush. Use ionic thermal heat styling tools. Use heat styling tools only on completely dry hair. Use heat protectant spray before using heat styling tools. Turn down the temperature on your heat styling tools. Take a break from dyeing your hair.