Caring for yourself whilst caring for others

Caring - the truth

Caring for someone you love can be one of the most meaningful things you’ll ever do, but it can also be exhausting, emotional, and at times, incredibly isolating. Many of us don’t even realise how much we’re carrying until we notice that our own wellbeing has quietly slipped to the bottom of the list.

Addy's story

I know this feeling personally. I’m in a stage of life where I’m raising a three-year-old while also caring for my mum, who’s in her late seventies and living with rare, progressive genetic brain disorder. It’s a kind of in?between place, being needed in two directions at once. Some days I feel like I’m holding two worlds together with both hands and trying not to drop anything that matters.  

Mum’s condition affects her movement, coordination, thinking ability, and behaviour. It can involve involuntary movements, emotional or cognitive changes, and a gradual decline in neurological function. Learning about the condition wasn’t just a medical moment, it was an emotional one. It reframed what my mum was experiencing and helped me understand why caring for her requires so much patience.  

One thing I’ve learned both through my own journey and through this work is that there are far more unpaid carers around us than we realise. Many people don’t even use the word “carer” to describe themselves. They say, “I’m just helping my mum,” or “I’m looking after my partner,” or “I’m only doing what anyone would do.” But behind those everyday words are people quietly carrying extraordinary responsibilities. So many carers are hidden in plain sight, doing vital, complex, emotional work without ever being recognised as carers at all.  

And that’s why these new LiveWell courses matter so much. They shine a light on the reality of caring, the strength, the strain, and the humanity of it. These have been designed to help both carers and professionals feel better equipped, better connected, and better supported. 

Take Action: Caring for yourself while caring for others 

This gentle, supportive session creates space for unpaid carers, including people like me, like you, or someone you support, to pause and breathe. It’s a chance to reconnect with yourself and remember who you are beneath all the responsibilities. 

Together, we explore: 

• Self-care that feels doable (not another thing to feel guilty about) 

• Identity beyond the caring role 

• How relationships shift when caring becomes part of everyday life 

• What to do when you feel pulled in all directions at once 

The heart of the session is compassion. It’s a place where you can feel seen, heard, and understood. 

This session was created in partnership with Carer Support Dorset (now part of Help & Care) and Adult Care teams at Dorset Council, and shaped by carers themselves, their stories, their realities, and their honesty about what support actually feels like. 

Bringing this session to your community

If you like the sound of our sessions, then get in touch with us today and we can visit your community. All you need is: 

• A space – online or in-person – to host a session 

• To help share it with carers in their networks 

Once that’s in place, we’ll take care of everything else: delivery, facilitation, materials - the lot. 

Caring can be incredibly rewarding, but also complicated, and lonely at times. If you’re an unpaid carer, or you support them in your work, you deserve space, understanding, and practical tools that make life a little easier. 

These new LiveWell courses were created with real carers in mind, shaped by real experiences, and built to offer genuine support. I hope they remind you that you’re not alone, that your role matters, and that support is here when you need it. 

If you are an unpaid carer who needs support, Help & Care now deliver the Dorset Carer Service, offering: 

• A dedicated Carer Link Worker to talk to 

• Help understanding your rights and entitlements 

• Support with health and wellbeing, including coaching 

• Connections to local groups, community hubs, and practical resources 

• Access to the HOPE Programme, helping carers build resilience and confidence 

Dorset Carer Service - Help & Care