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Field noteRelationshipsMental health1 minute read

Caring for a partner who is ill

Love, duty and exhaustion when you become a carer.

When a partner becomes seriously ill, physically or mentally, the relationship changes. You may become their carer as well as their partner.

What carers often feel

  • Love and protectiveness
  • Exhaustion
  • Grief for the life you had planned
  • Resentment, followed by guilt for feeling it
  • Isolation

Look after yourself

  • Accept practical help when it is offered
  • Find out what carer support exists where you live
  • Keep at least one thing that is just yours
  • Talk to someone about how you are, not just how they are

Staying partners

Where you can, keep moments that are about being a couple, not just about care.

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