“There’s nothing anyone can do to help.”
“I’m fine.”
“Talking won’t change anything.”
Are all examples of what we hear sometimes when we meet carers for the first time.
And we understand. When someone is caring for someone day in and day out, navigating complex needs, emotional exhaustion, and often doing it alone, it’s easy to feel that no one could possibly understand, let alone offer meaningful help.
But time and again, we see something shift.
Take Caroline, for example, a carer supported by our Hospital Team. At first, she was adamant she didn’t need help:
“I dismissed it as ‘how will talking to a complete stranger help my situation?’ But I quickly came to realise that it did… I felt I had to hide my exhaustion, anxiety, and at times pure frustration from my partner… I didn’t realise how much of a huge change it would bring to my own life and mental health.”
Through support before and after her partner’s discharge from hospital, Caroline began to feel heard, validated, and less alone. The emotional burden she was silently carrying became lighter — not because her circumstances magically changed, but because someone listened without judgment and reminded her, she didn’t have to cope on her own.
We saw something similar at a Gypsy & Traveller Wellbeing Day, hosted by Friends, Families and Travellers (FFT). A parent carer approached our stand, sceptical and guarded. Her first words?
“No, no, there is nothing you people can do to help me. There is nothing anyone can do. I have tried and been let down many times.”
She went on to share how her child doesn’t have a formal diagnosis because of concerns around screening — and how this has made her feel excluded from support in the past. But when we explained that Carers Support West Sussex doesn’t require a diagnosis to offer support, the conversation changed. She began to open up — about her struggles, her mental health, and the emotional toll of caregiving.
That carer is now registered with us, and we hope to offer her ongoing support.
These stories reflect a truth we see every day: many unpaid carers don’t believe support is available — until they experience it.
How We Can Help You as a Carer
Carers Support West Sussex is here for anyone who looks after a friend, family member, partner or neighbour who couldn’t manage without their support — whether that person is living with a disability, long-term health condition, mental health issue, or substance misuse.
You don’t need to have a formal diagnosis, and you don’t need to wait for a crisis.
Here’s just a snapshot of the support we offer:
🔹 Carer Coaching – Sessions to help you build confidence, set boundaries, and find ways to cope.
🔹 Emotional Support – Speak to a trained team member who will listen, validate your feelings, and help you process what you’re going through.
🔹 Information & Guidance – From navigating carer benefits to making a contingency plan, to finding out about how to take a break from caring.
🔹 Local Support Groups – Connect with other carers who get it — in a safe, welcoming environment.
🔹 Hospital Support – Help during hospital admissions and discharges, so you’re not managing those transitions alone.
🔹 Parent Carer Support – Tailored support for those caring for children with additional needs.
A Final Thought
Whether you find us at a hospital bedside, a community event, or through a friend’s recommendation, our message is always the same:
You don’t have to do this alone.
Support is available — and it starts with a conversation.
If you’re an unpaid Carer in West Sussex and think we can’t help — we invite you to give us a chance.
