Celebrating Carers Week: Recogniisng and Supporting the Unsung Heroes in the UK

As I am an Unpaid Carer for my mum, I could not ignore that this week is Carers Week in the UK.  Being an unpaid carer for the last 2 years with little family or profressional support has taken a toll on me.  So I thought I would highlight what Carers Week is all about.

 

In the United Kingdom, Carers Week is a vital annual event that shines a spotlight on the selfless individuals who provide care and support to their loved ones. These individuals, known as carers, play a pivotal role in our society by looking after family members, friends, or neighbors who may have a disability, illness, or are elderly. Carers Week serves as a platform to raise awareness about the challenges they face, celebrate their remarkable contributions, and promote the importance of supporting carers nationwide. In this blog post, we'll delve into the significance of Carers Week in the UK and highlight the initiatives aimed at recognizing and assisting carers.

1. Understanding the Role of Carers: Carers are individuals who provide unpaid care and support to someone who requires assistance due to illness, disability, mental health issues, or old age. They play a crucial role in maintaining the well-being and quality of life of their loved ones. Carers often juggle multiple responsibilities, including personal care, emotional support, household chores, and managing healthcare needs. Their dedication and sacrifice are instrumental in allowing individuals with care needs to remain in their homes and communities.

2. The Significance of Carers Week: Carers Week, traditionally held in June, is an annual campaign that brings attention to the vital contributions of carers across the UK. The campaign aims to raise awareness about carers' challenges and needs, promote understanding and support, and ensure carers receive the recognition they deserve. The week-long event is an opportunity for organisations, charities, and communities to come together and celebrate the extraordinary efforts of carers while highlighting the importance of their well-being.

3. Key Objectives of Carers Week:

• Raising Awareness: Carers Week strives to increase public awareness about the diverse range of caring roles and the challenges carers face in their daily lives.
• Recognition: The campaign aims to recognise and celebrate the remarkable contributions made by carers, ensuring they feel valued and appreciated.
• Support: Carers Week emphasises the importance of providing carers with adequate support, both practical and emotional, to help them in their caregiving journey.
• Influence Policy: The campaign advocates for changes in policies and practices that can positively impact carers' lives, ensuring they receive the necessary support from the government, healthcare systems, and communities.

4. Activities and Events during Carers Week: Carers Week hosts a variety of activities and events throughout the country to engage carers, their families, and the wider community. These events include information sessions, workshops, support groups, social gatherings, art exhibitions, and fundraising initiatives. Local authorities, charities, and healthcare organisations actively participate in organising events to promote awareness, provide valuable resources, and deliver services tailored to carers' needs.

5. The Importance of Supporting Carers: Caring for a loved one can be physically and emotionally demanding, often leading to stress, exhaustion, and social isolation for carers. It is crucial to prioritise their well-being and provide them with the necessary support to maintain their own health and happiness. Recognising and supporting carers not only benefits the individuals they care for but also contributes to building a compassionate and inclusive society.

6. Resources and Support Available: Several organisations provide information, resources, and support for carers in the UK. These include:

• Carers UK: A national charity providing practical advice, information, and support for carers.
  
• Carers Trust: Offers a wide range of services, support groups, and access to local carer centers.
• Local Authorities: Contact your local council to find out about support available in your area.
• Health and Social Care Services: Healthcare professionals can provide guidance and information on available support services.

Why am I doing this blog!

 

 I am really nervous about writing this post, but it is a way of processing things as of late.

 

This is the Bondy people know!

So, in my main last blog post I gave an introduction about myself and give you an insight into what I get up to.  I decided my next post would be about way I have now decided to do this blog and create my own little space in this vast blogger-sphere.  Many people only tend to see me as this happy, outgoing, and bubbly character.  Whilst only a few close people know the real person that is ME.  As in all people that is the case I believe.  There are several reasons I am doing this blog, and many are for personal reasons which in time you will find out about if you keep following, but I never want to use it as a form of personal gratification or blowing my own trumpet as some people will say.  In no ways is this blog looking for sympathy or attention seeking.  I want to this blog to be not just personal but also a way of challenging the stigma and stereotyping of mental health conditions, learning difficulties and other things through my own personal experiences.  You are probably thinking why not just write it in a diary or journal.  I do, but only I get to read that, and I feel doing this blog could help others or even challenge the norm.  The blog will also be documenting things I love doing as well.

 

I need to find an outlet and find a way to deal and process my feelings, thoughts, and emotions.  I have real difficulty with this as I have been recently diagnosed with Disassociation Disorder.  After finding out I had this disorder, I felt very confused but the nurses who did the mental health assessment were fabulous and let me get out what I was holding deep inside.  They could see that I wanted to cry as my eyes were watering, but no tears would come out.  They could see I was also wanting to get angry, but I just sat there talking to them as if I was out with some friends.  I never heard of this disorder before, but from what they told me the saying that many people use ‘To let it all out’, I physical can’t.  Since a child, I have never really reacted emotionally to anything that was happening around me, and at times I just react to things involuntary.  When this happens, it’s always feels that I am not in control of my body, but I am just a passenger. I never known the reason why this happens and often if people are trying to get my attention, they often think I am being rude or ignorant.  I am not.  I may not have realised you are there, or the driver just won’t let me respond.

I also have depression and anxiety which goes hand in hand with this disorder, but it all relates to trauma.  For now, I won’t go into the details, but I have been living with this trauma for a very long time and even though my teenage and young adult years were quite turbulent, I learned all the bad techniques and behaviours in dealing with this trauma. I turned to alcohol and drugs; I also was also self-harming a lot too.  During this time, my family and friends were so supportive and caring.  They put up with me and saw that there was a person under that facade.

 

Now roll on 20 years, my life has been quite a rollercoaster, but it had come crashing down again as my marriage ended badly and I was isolated away in Ebbw Vale away from my family and friends, but I kept positive that I will get home.  Fast forward to the present and my health has deteriorated, and I am not the active person I used to be who was running around at conventions or working 72 hours a week in a care home.  I can now manage walking to town to do a bit of shopping.  So, I am mostly staying at home.  So as the professionals put it, there is a lot of negative stressors all going on around me and they can’t believe how I am physically functionim, but that down to the amazing family, boyfriend and friends around me.  Even though many do not know what is going on, they are there for me no matter what.  Even though all my friends seem miles aways, I know they are there for me no matter what and I am there for them to. 

 

So, moving forward, I know I must deal with the trauma and some of you know that I have started intensive counselling for this to re-learn the positive behaviours and techniques for myself and not the professional me who worked in the field.  This what makes us the worst types of patients who accesses mental health services, as we know what the counsellors or therapist will say.  So, I need to take a major step back and ask for the help as I know now is the right time to do it.

 

So, this blog for me is a therapeutic way of me dealing with this and it gives me a focus to channel how I am feeling or what is venting up inside.  So, if you got to the bottom of this post, I do applaud you, as I have said a lot about myself that many will not know.  Please I do ask just to treat me like you always have done as this is a journey for me too.  If you are intrigued like me about things, I have provided links to Mind about Trauma, Stress, Depression, and Anxiety etc.  So please take a look.

Live Long and Prosper

 

Bondy