Learn how to manage your own wellbeing while caring for someone else. Get information and tips on looking after your mental health and finding support.
View this information as a PDF (new window)
It can help to understand common challenges that many unpaid carers encounter, as this might make you feel less alone. We explain some feelings you might experience while caring for someone, and how these can impact your mental health.
On this page:
It can be a very positive and rewarding experience to know you are helping someone else.
Some carers feel they've learnt more about their own strengths, or have helped others understand their condition, problem or disability. You might feel a sense of satisfaction from making a real difference to the life of the person you care for.
Through your experience of supporting someone else, you may feel:
"It isn't easy. There are times when it is desperate, exhausting and miserable. But overall I think we're stronger, more honest and more resilient as a couple."
When caring for someone else, you might experience challenges and difficult feelings such as:
"I got no support and I didn't really know that there was anywhere or anyone I could turn to. It had a huge impact on my mental health. I developed obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety and depression."
"The hardest thing for me is I can never forget I am a carer. Even if I get some 'me time', first I have to organise alternative care and if I can't get it, I have to cancel what I wanted to do."
"The biggest thing for me is making time for myself, it is very easy to feel guilty about making time, and very difficult to do on a practical level."
In this podcast, Bryony talks about what it's like caring for her mother while living with bipolar.
Read the transcript of the podcast, or find out more about Mind podcasts.
This information was published in May 2021. We will revise it in 2024.
References and bibliography available on request.
If you want to reproduce this content, see our permissions and licensing page.