How the RESET Carers Programme helped one full-time Carer reconnect with herself

“I feel like I’m slowly coming out of survival mode and into a place where I can breathe, reflect, and take care of myself.”

Ansa is a full-time Carer for her neurodivergent son. Like many Carers, she was coping on the outside—but internally, the impact of caring was building. Through the RESET Carers Programme, she found space to reflect, tools to cope, and a new way forward.

The RESET Carers Programme is a free 10-week therapeutic programme designed to address the challenges and difficulties that Carers face.

Living with Constant Stress

Before attending the programme, I was living in a constant state of stress as a carer that I didn’t fully recognise at the time. On the outside, I was managing, but internally I often felt overwhelmed, on edge, and emotionally stretched. My body felt tense a lot of the time, and my mind rarely switched off. I had normalised that level of stress and just kept pushing through, without really understanding what it was doing to me. Looking back, I can see I was operating in survival mode more than I realised.

Reaching a Turning Point

There came a point where I couldn’t ignore it anymore. I started to feel the weight of everything I was carrying, not just mentally but physically too. I realised that if I kept going the way I was, it would eventually take a bigger toll on my health and wellbeing. I wanted something different. I wanted to feel calmer, more present, and more connected to myself. That desire to feel better, and to take responsibility for my health, is what pushed me to make a change.

Learning to Slow Down

I had to learn how to slow down, which was much harder than I expected. It meant stepping out of patterns I’d been in for a long time and facing parts of myself that I hadn’t fully acknowledged before. Realising how much of my reactions are rooted in past experiences, including what I’ve carried from childhood, was emotional and at times uncomfortable. But through that, I learned that I’ve been holding a lot in my body for years. I learned that I’m more sensitive and affected than I allowed myself to admit, and that I need care, not just discipline. I also discovered that I’m capable of change.

Finding Helpful Tools

Small things like breathwork and journaling helped me feel things I had been suppressing and gave me a way to release them. It’s helped me develop more compassion towards myself.

A Softer New Normal

My new normal feels softer and more aware. I’m starting to recognise when my body is overwhelmed and respond to it instead of ignoring it. I’m making space for rest and restorative practices without feeling as guilty about it. I feel more in tune with myself, and although life still has its challenges, I don’t feel as consumed by them.

There’s a growing sense of calm and control in how I respond to situations. I feel like I’m slowly coming out of survival mode and into a place where I can breathe, reflect, and take care of myself in a more intentional way. It’s still a journey, but I feel like I’m finally moving in the right direction.

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