Rachel’s story: from tension to tranquility

Rachel’s story: from tension to tranquility

Rachel cares for her husband, who lives with epilepsy and severe mental health challenges. Caring involves managing his medication, offering constant encouragement, and remaining vigilant for changes in his condition. Over time, the emotional and physical demands of caring have taken their toll. Rachel began to experience aches and pains, alongside the strain of always feeling 'on alert', which made day-to-day life increasingly difficult.

With ongoing support from her local carers' centre, Rachel began attending mindfulness sessions. She embraced these opportunities, finding them helpful in managing stress and creating moments of calm within her routine.

During conversations with staff, Rachel spoke about some of the physical tension she was experiencing, and the potential benefits of massage were discussed. She was encouraged to apply for a Time to Live microgrant to support this. After successfully applying, Rachel used the grant to purchase a block of monthly massages - something that quickly became a vital source of relief and restoration.

“Having a monthly massage for me is like a power relaxation. That one hour of uninterrupted ‘me time’ means I don’t think about anything my tensed-up muscles just relax.”

The benefits extended far beyond the sessions themselves. Knowing she had this time set aside each month gave Rachel something positive to look forward to a regular and reliable source of support for her wellbeing.

“For me, it’s like flicking a switch when the massage starts, and everything mind and body just let’s go. I completely zone out.”

Alongside the immediate sense of calm, Rachel noticed clear physical improvements, particularly in reducing tension in her neck, shoulders, and face. More importantly, the experience helped her feel stronger and more able to continue caring.

Through the support of the carers' centre and the Time to Live grant, Rachel has been able to prioritise her own wellbeing, something that is essential not only for her, but for the care she continues to provide every day.

Find out more about Time to Live here.