Mindfulness in the Time of Covid-19

By Christy Romero on August 13th, 2020

By James D. Huysman, PsyD, LCSW, CFT
WellMed Chief Compassion Officer

Those of you brave caregivers who have been following this column have heard me many times urge, advise, and strongly suggest that you “Take Your Oxygen First!”

My intention in suggesting self-care has been along the same lines as, “If you’re going to jump out of an airplane, it is suggested that you wear a parachute!” Anyone who provides or has provided care to a family member, friend or loved one knows that caregiving can be all-consuming, potentially draining, enormously challenging, and terrifically rewarding – all at the same time.

Nancy Kriseman, LCSW, a geriatric social worker with a 30+ year career working with seniors and their caregivers was the first thought leader I know of to meld mindfulness with caregiving. In her groundbreaking, 2014 book “The Mindful Caregiver: Finding Ease in the Caregiver Journey,” Kriseman highlights two major approaches: 1) adopting a practice of mindfulness, which helps caregivers become more self-aware and fully present with the person for whom they are caring. 2) honoring “the spirit-side” of caregiving, which offers new ways of connecting to one another. These approaches take into account not just the needs of the care recipient, but also the needs of the caregiver and other people in his/her life.

“Mindfulness reminds you that you matter!” said Kriseman. “It nudges you to be kind and gentle, nonjudgmental, and compassionate with yourself. It can help you prioritize, set limits, stay true to yourself, and ultimately feel more at ease during the caregiving journey.” Mindful caregiving means being intentional. “Being intentional requires that caregivers learn to ask themselves the following about how they provide care:

» Is this necessary?
» Am I doing too much?
» Am I expecting too much of myself?”

Aside from Nancy’s book, Jon Kabat Zin and Tara Brach, among many others are excellent, expert resources to begin exploring the upside of mindfulness. Mindfulness practice has made a world of difference not only to caregiving, but to many facets of life. It has certainly become a welcome part of mine as I’ve learned to take my oxygen first, too.

James D. (Dr. Jamie) Huysman, PsyD, LCSW, CFT, Chief Compassion Officer, Project Omega. Social entrepreneurship, advocacy, and innovation have been the touchstones and driving force throughout Dr. Jamie’s 40-year career encompassing both for-profit and nonprofit leadership roles. Now, as newly appointed Chief Compassion Officer, he brings his special brand of connective magic to the Patient Teleconnection platform. Through this new national outreach effort and on behalf of the WellMed Charitable Foundation he continues his advocacy efforts to educate empower and energize medical patients within all healthcare systems today as well as the general public nationwide.