Coping strategies

If I gave you a penny for every time someone said to a carer, 
'You need to look after yourself'...well, I'd be truly loaded, naturellement.
  In those moments when you are free of your caring duties, carers probably have work, other children/family members to attend to as well as housework, admin and all the crap we live with that has to be got through. Cast that aside and then, if you're lucky there's a tiny space. Some carers swap notes at carer groups, others even go out and work in special schools/day centres or volunteer as supporters.
  I have to say I have shunned all that like mad, desperate for that non-carer identity, keen to be somewhere, doing something where people do not necessarily know that I'm a carer and have no idea that an hour ago I was wiping a 22 year old's bottom and will be maybe an hour hence. It's not that I'm in denial. it's just that I need a break in every sense from the role.
  For 11 years I had a pretty stressful job, albeit working from home, running a Families mag. Now (praise the Lord), that is behind me and I have a new venture, Carer's Allowance and lots more time for my de-stressers like gardening, reading and catching up with my beloved friends. Best of all though, after a Carer's Assessment last year I was awarded a modest amount, per week to 'access the community'. 
  'Access the what?' Well basically what is being suggested is that carers need small bribes to 'Get out more'. It takes a while but a dollop of money is plonked into a special bank account specially designated for 'Getting out more'. You have to supply a reconciliation form every quarter with receipts, etc to prove that you've not been squandering it on gin and if it's unspent, you haver to pay it all back, in my case to Surrey County Council. What's not to like?
  I was pretty non-plussed/too stressed to begin to imagine the possibilities at first. The social worker tentatively suggested I try Yoga and, devoid of all other ideas, I latched onto that and thank goodness.
  To use up my allocation I needed to go twice a week which takes about 5 hours out of my week. I never thought I'd make it but now I'm not sure how I managed before.
  What does it give me? Everything anyone has ever told you about yoga/meditation/Tai Chi - empowerment, strength, calm, insight, peace, sleep - all of which has to be great for La too.
  So thanks Surrey CC - it would be stretching a point to say in these hard times I get Yoga on the state but it's almost true!