Can caring make you sick?

[Guest guest]

This is a good article on CNN Health about Dixie Coskie, who became sick after

caring for her 13-year-old son. In Coskie's book " Unthinkable, " she offers tips

for dealing with the stress of caregiving. These tips include:

1- Control the carbs: " stress can make you fat and being fat takes a toll on

your health "

2- Get rid of the guilt: " guilt can send your stress hormones skyrocketing "

3- Resist " helpless hopeless " : resist feeling " like you're stuck and no one can

help "

4- Reject " hamster head " : reject " unhelpful thoughts, worries and anxieties "

going around and around in your mind

5- " Surrender, Dorothy " : " don't argue with your parent...just let it go "

http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/05/20/caregivers.health.risks/index.html

Can caring make you sick?

By Cohen, CNN Senior Medical Correspondent

May 20, 2010 8:58 a.m. EDT