Who Is Caring for the Carer?
Updated: Sep 25
Who is caring for the carer? Because the person supporting everyone else often becomes the last person to receive support themselves.
So often, we give from a half-empty, or completely depleted, cup. Eventually, burnout becomes very real.
I have been working in the care industry for three years now, and during that time I have witnessed the effects caring can have on the mind, body and spirit.
I consider myself a very easy-going person. I can usually brush things off, move on and not take things too personally. But when you are working closely with trauma, the choice is not always yours. You are exposed to other people's emotions, experiences, fears, frustrations and pain. Even when you know that what you are witnessing belongs to someone else, your body can still respond to it. And if you don't have strong and healthy energetic boundaries, you can deplete your own resources very quickly.
For a long time, I didn't notice it as much because I had my own way of managing it. I would take myself away on a holiday every three months, and I learnt how to create boundaries while I was on the job. But even with all of that, I eventually found myself with no energy, no motivation and no desire to keep working. That really made me stop and look at what was happening.
What Are You Carrying?
I think we have to be very mindful as carers that we understand what is our energy and what belongs to someone else. Because if we don't recognise the difference, we can unknowingly carry things that were never ours to carry in the first place.
We can come home exhausted without really knowing why.
We can feel emotionally flat, disconnected or overwhelmed.
We can struggle to switch off at night because our nervous system hasn't received the message that the day is actually over.
And sometimes we don't even realise how depleted we are until we reach the point where our body is asking us to stop.
Caring for Yourself Isn't Selfish
This is something I feel very strongly about. If you are caring for children, supporting people with disabilities, working with trauma, teaching, coordinating support, looking after a loved one, or simply being the person everyone comes to when they need something, you are part of the care plan too.
Your wellbeing matters.
Your energy matters.
Your sleep matters.
Your ability to switch off matters.
And you deserve to have support, too.
For me, this is why learning how to support my own nervous system has become such an important part of my journey. Not because we can remove every challenging experience from our lives. But because we can become more aware of what we are carrying, create healthier boundaries, give our bodies the support they need, and find ways to come back to ourselves. Because the goal isn't to stop caring. It's to be able to care without losing yourself in the process.
My Proven Nervous System Support Protocol
As part of supporting myself and others, Copaiba and Lavender Peace® have become two of my favourite companions. I have brought them together in my Nervous System Support Kit.
My personal support protocol is:
Morning: 2 × Copaiba capsule*
Throughout the day: 1 drop Copaiba essential oil* under the tongue every 1–2 hours
Evening: 1 × Lavender Peace®* capsule plus 1 × Copaiba capsule
For me, this is not only a protocol but also a sacred ritual about intentionally creating little moments of support throughout the day rather than waiting until I am already completely depleted.
Caring for the Carer - Naturally
For those who would like to learn more about how to support your nervous system naturally, I have put together a workshop called "Caring for the Carer - Naturally".
This workshop is for the people who spend so much of themselves caring for everybody else. Together, we'll explore simple, natural ways to support your wellbeing, create healthier boundaries and bring more calm and restoration into your everyday life.
Because perhaps the question we need to start asking more often is:
Who is caring for the carer?
If that's you, maybe it's time to put yourself back into the care plan.
You are worth caring for, too.
With love,
Tracey xx
*Please follow the individual product directions and consider your personal circumstances before using essential oils or supplements internally. Seek appropriate professional advice where needed.
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