Caregiving is emotionally stressful.
Caregiving is physically demanding, there’s no doubt about that, but the emotional stress can be even more draining. Whether you’re caring for a loved one or you’re a full time caregiver in your area, you will be overwhelmed at some point.
Exhausted and frustrated because you have to do a host of things for which you have no training or experience. Demanding as you make sure they get their rest while handling the endless phone calls, visitors and the never ending juggling of medication. Hospice and Red Cross have services that can help – you don’t have to do it all by yourself.
For those that care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, it can be very hard to watch their condition worsen over time. While you care for them and cope with your own stress, you may also be experiencing financial or relationship difficulties of your own.
As someone that gives so much, you need to also give to yourself – known by some as “selfish” but more correctly defined as “self care”. For more on this please go to my YouTube channel and watch my video on this.
Mary Francis, The Sisterhood of Widows
#thesisterhoodofwidows, #widow, #grief, #griefsupport
Sharon
I was my sweet husband’s caregiver for
3-1/2 years before he passed away at the end of January 2023. I sometimes find myself thinking about his medications and what weekly appointments are scheduled.
I sometimes check the calendar even though I know it’s blank. There are times I feel I failed him, But then I tell myself I did the best I could. Caregiving is a hard job and I know if it had been me who was sick, he would have done the same for me. Not having him to take care of is a huge adjustment.
If someone had told me 3-1/2 years ago what the outcome would be, I wouldn’t have believed it. Losing him was unexpected and has left a huge hole in my heart. I miss him every day as I take this journey alone.