How to take care of yourself when you are worried

It’s easy to forget yourself when you are worrying about a loved one. To take care of a loved one that is struggling, takes a lot of energy. So make sure you keep up your energy by taking good care of yourself. You can only take care of someone else, when you are okay yourself!

How to:

  • Step back sometimes and focus on things that make you feel good. Recharge your battery, so you can fully be there for the other person. Give yourself the time and calm to get your thoughts in order.
  • It can stir up intense emotions when someone around you is really struggling (especially if thinking about suicide). It can make you feel guilty, powerless, anxious, angry or sad. That’s completely normal. Allow those feelings. Keeping them in won’t make them go away.
  • Don’t carry it alone. Talk to people you trust, allow their support. Get it off your chest.
  • Remember that being there for someone is enough. You are not responsible for the choices someone else makes. You cannot fix them.
  • Is it getting too much? Set your boundaries. Even if someone is thinking about suicide, your feelings matter too. If needed, you can agree on what the other can and cannot ask of you, and align on how, when, and how often you’ll discuss problems.