How to stop feeling anxious or worried about a family member who is ill?

There is no doubt that when you learn about the illness of one of your loved ones, it comes to you as a shock. The long days and restless nights start to take a toll on your mind and body. However, what has the biggest adverse effect on you is worrying. Worrying about what could happen, what could go wrong etc… 

So, how do you stop feeling anxious about your sick family member? You ought to think about the good and the bad aspects of any situation, but do so within normal limits. The moment thinking begins to distress, puzzle or trouble you, know that it has crossed the limit; and therefore, stop thinking about it. After the limit is reached, thoughts turn into worries.

Carefulness

There is a vast difference between being careful and worrying. Carefulness is an awareness of what is essential, what is helpful and what is harmful for the patient; whereas worry means the anxiety of, ‘What will happen? What do I do?’ These kinds of thoughts eat you up from within.

Worries that eat away at you are meaningless. They not only harm your health but also create obstructions in bringing about the intended result. So, worries are destructive in many ways. 

Negative Thoughts lead to Negative Outcomes

Worries are a type of negative thoughts. The effect of negative thoughts is that they always bring about unfavorable outcomes. When you have negative thoughts, you send negative vibrations into nature. Those negative vibrations pull together negative evidences that cause interference and disturbance. These are the cause of negative outcomes. Knowing the harm that worrying and anxiousness can cause is the first step to how to stop feeling anxious about sick family members.  

When you have a fracture, why do the doctors make you wear a cast? It is so that you do not interfere in the healing process. Think about it, if you broke your arm and you did not have a cast, you would keep moving your arm around. You would focus on it and keep inspecting it to see if it is mending. Then would your arm have the opportunity to heal? No! In fact, your interference will only make matters worse. That is why doctors put a cast on your broken bones to stop you from interfering, in order to give nature time to do its magic and heal the fracture. 

On the other hand, positive thoughts send out positive vibrations into nature, which pull together positive evidences, thus leading to positive results. 

Practical Solutions

God has said, “Look for solutions, but do not worry.” So let us look at what we can do in these difficult times. These are practical solutions for how to stop being anxious and how to not worry about sick loved ones: 

• Rather than worrying, work on the options you have. Try your best to ensure that your family member is getting the right line of treatment.
• Along with medical care, the patient needs your undivided attention too. Many a times, the latter can do miracles and bring such results that even medicines cannot.
• Take good care of the patient and make him / her feel very happy. Satisfy their needs.
• Put the patients’ needs first. Adjust your schedule to the patient’s schedule so that they get what they need, when they need it. This means that you need to give the patient their medicines and food on time.
• Observe the patient carefully. Note down any change in their condition, but do not get emotional. Your findings will be helpful to the doctor.
• Be attentive when the doctor is giving advice. Often we misinterpret what the doctor says and find ourselves worrying unnecessarily.
• While the treatment is going on, remain alert and observant; but do not become paranoid, doubting it unnecessarily at every step because of your worries.
• Be informed. Knowledge is power. Do some basic research and learn about the ailment, especially on the points that make you worry. You will find the right information that will get you out of your worries.
• Share any updates with your extended family and friends regularly. Seek support wherever necessary. This will cut down your worries sharply.
• Do whatever it takes to make the patient feel comfort. When you see the patient is comfortable, it takes away many of your worries.
• Do not ever let out the frustration of your worries on your ailing family member. Deal with him / her very gently, kindly and patiently.
• While trying to give all the care to them, take care of yourself too. Eat well or else how will you help? Get enough sleep. Do not worry. Find the right balance that works for you.

God has said, “Do not worry about that which is not present.” Therefore, do not worry about what lies ahead, focus on the present. You have to fulfill your responsibilities and do everything you can in the best possible manner, but without worrying. Do so with a positive mindset, with ample of love and care and leave the rest to nature.