“I’m just not coping.”

EXPERT TIP

Whether said out loud or just felt, it’s a sign you need to allow time to look after yourself. Clarke uses the in-flight oxygen-mask analogy – “Put on your oxygen mask before helping others” – to illustrate that

“in order to be the best version of ourselves and be there for others, we need to take care of ourselves”. Caring for someone with a chronic condition is hard and sometimes unrewarding. Managing your own diet, exercise, sleep and free time is rewarding, both for you and your family.