By Millions of people suffer from chronic pain, which can be debilitating and lead to a lower quality of life. People often talk about what can be done to provide care for those with chronic pain to find relief and help improve their overall well-being, but little is discussed in regard to the toll that it takes on spouses who may be their caretakers.
Those spouses who are also caretakers for those with chronic pain also suffer. The good news, however, is that there are some things that can be done to help improve their quality of life as well.
In a study published in the June 2018 issue of the journal Annals of Behavioral Medicine, researchers looked at the impact on well-being of care giving spouses of individuals who have chronic pain (1). They report that spouses who are also the caregivers that provide care for those with chronic pain, they often experience poor well-being.
Their study involved participants who were caregiving spouses to those with chronic pain conditions. They conducted a 5-point longitudinal study, whereby participants completed a questionnaire every six months for two years. They then followed up with a diary study that had the participants complete daily records regarding provisions of autonomy support and well being.
What the results of their study showed was that autonomy support was associated with greater well being, and that provision of autonomy support as a beneficial support for the provider lay the groundwork for a caregiver-focused intervention. This information is helpful for health providers who provide chronic pain management, may have patients who are caretakers of those with chronic pain, and for caretakers themselves.
The American Psychological Association reports that family caregivers may have a major influence on the care recipient’s health and well-being (2). They also report that the decline in the family caregiver’s health is one of the major risk factors for institutionalization of the care recipient. This makes it that much more important that the person giving the care is taking steps to look after their own well-being and do things to improve their quality of life.
When it comes to improving the well-being of the spouse caregiver, some of the things that can be done include:
Giving them what they need to provide the care that is needed. Sometimes all they need to help make things less stressful are the right tools to provide the care.
Accepting and asking for help once in a while. Many people don’t want to ask for or receive help, but that puts a huge burden on themselves. Asking for help and accepting it when offered can go a long way toward easing the burden from shouldering the load alone to provide care for those with chronic pain.
Taking breaks once in a while so that you can focus on doing something you enjoy. Engaging in self-care is necessary so that people feel better and help keep their spouse feeling better.
Stay connected with others so that you have social engagement. Whether getting together with family and friends or joining a support group, it’s important to stay in touch with others.
Taking care of your own health by getting exercise each day and finding ways to reduce stress, such as doing meditation or breathing exercises.
It’s easy for spouses who provide care to their loved ones with chronic pain to feel overwhelmed, worried, and irritated. But this takes a toll on both people, impacting their overall well-being and quality of life. It’s important to take steps to try and avoid the problems as much as possible and keep enjoying life, despite the challenges.
