Melody sends a practical caregiver tip

Melody sent this to me this morning...

Tip for "Karegivers"😊

Having a hard time emotionally with the bad behaviour and “grouchy-face” of the loved one?

-step away for a moment

-put one hand on your heart, arrange your mouth into a smile (or semblance thereof) even if you don’t feel like smiling, and rub the frown lines on your forehead - smoothing your forehead as much as possible (raising your eyebrows a few times can help with this).

-then take a DEEP BREATH right down to your toes, lifting and expanding your chest as much as possible.

-then carry on WITHOUT LOOKING DIRECTLY AT YOUR LOVED ONE’s FACE (look at their chest or hands) or wherever else you need to focus.

this is very helpful because our poor little neurological SOCIAL attachment system automatically goes into emergency mode when we see an expression of distress, anger, sadness etc on the face of someone close to us. This is normal and very stressful when experience frequently...

There will be much more in the moment "body work" info coming from Melody (beside being an occupational therapist for her main career she is a movement expert). She has been body aware since I met her. She taught me to ski, play my instrument better and frequently does hands on healing for sore joints, shoulders, backs etc...