Welcome to Caregiver Calm.
This is your Caregiver Reset.
A quiet moment for the end of your day.
In today's reset we're going to calm anxiety at night and if you're listening to this at night and your thoughts won't seem to settle down then this is for you.
Just because it's nighttime or it's bedtime it doesn't mean that caregiving clocks out.
Even when your body's tired your thoughts just seem to stay alert.
You start thinking what if something happens?
Did I forget something?
What will tomorrow bring?
So I want you to pause for a moment and breathe with me.
I want you to inhale slowly for four counts,
Hold it for four counts and then exhale slowly for six.
Let's try it.
Let's inhale for four,
Hold it for four and exhale for six.
Anxiety at night comes from responsibility and I know you care deeply for your loved one and you want to be prepared and you want to stay alert and stay aware.
But at this moment right now you're allowed to rest.
You're allowed to reset.
You are allowed to recharge because you don't have to solve tomorrow,
Tonight.
The future is not asking for your attention in this moment.
Only this breath is asking.
So take notice of your body.
Is your jaw tight?
If so,
Let it release.
How about your shoulders?
Are they lifted?
If so,
Just let them soften.
Is your forehead tense?
If so,
Unclench it gently.
Sometimes anxiety is simply your nervous system asking for reassurance.
So let me reassure you that you've handled every day so far.
You've handled every hard conversation,
Every unexpected and unpredictable moment,
Every challenge and you've shown up and you will handle tomorrow when it arrives.
But tonight your only assignment is rest.
And if you are a woman of faith or a man of faith then this is a beautiful moment to release control.
And you can say,
God I place my anxiety,
I place my fears,
My worries,
My stresses,
My challenges in your hands.
You don't have to carry it through the night.
Picture this.
Picture that you're setting down a heavy bag that you have been carrying and holding all day.
And just for now you're going to set that bag down.
Of course you can pick it back up tomorrow if you need to.
But just for tonight,
Don't pick it back up.
Because tonight I want you to focus on restoration.
Focus on restoring yourself,
Restoring all of the tiredness that you're feeling in your body.
Restoring the fears,
Restoring the stresses that you have,
The anxiety,
Restoring yourself.
So take one more breath with me.
Inhale for four,
Hold it for four,
And exhale slowly for six.
Your body is safe in this moment.
Your home is quiet.
You've done enough for today.
Remember anxiety does not mean that you are failing.
It just means that you care.
And rest does not mean that you're neglecting your loved one.
You're just renewing yourself.
Sleep if it comes.
And if it doesn't,
Simply breathe and let this moment be enough.
Because you are not alone.
And this has been Your Caregiver Reset.
And we are calming anxiety at night.
And I'll be here if you need calm again.
So have a good night.
