“Compassionate people ask for what they need. They say no when they need to, and when they say yes, they mean it. They’re compassionate because their boundaries keep them out of resentment.” Brené Brown The Boundaries Burnout Connection Setting, modifying, and reinforcing boundaries can prevent caregiver burnout. You may be wondering, what are boundaries, what […]
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When we experience a significant life change, our support network often changes. Therefore, it isn’t surprising that we will want to rethink and recreate our support system when we step or fall headfirst into a caregiving role. When we think of a support system, we often think of people. While people can be an essential
Empowered Caregiver Support System Read More »
It is helpful to understand the type of caregiver anxiety we are experiencing so that we use the proper techniques to counter the effects. For example, mental anxiety can be aggravated by trying to problem-solve with thoughts. Calming our thoughts is the key to relieving anxiety, which is very challenging when thoughts are swirling, and
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September is Self-Care Awareness Month and the perfect opportunity to highlight that self-care is not selfish but rather a critical component of health. While it is easy to place our well-being behind the many responsibilities that pop up in a day, practicing self-care is crucial to our emotional and physical well-being. Therefore, when we juggle
Self-Care Beyond the Spa Read More »
Dad, a teacher by profession and a lifelong learner, was always there to offer advice and support throughout my upbringing. His values were firmly established in his early days on a farm and his character shaped during his time spent in the navy in World War II. While he was firmly set in his values,
Five Lessons I Learned from Dad on Our Last Journey Together Read More »
I wasn’t prepared to manage the responsibilities following Dad’s hospitalization. No one responsibility was too challenging, but when all the tasks and responsibilities were combined, the work was all-consuming. One minute I was floating along in the raft, and a minute later, I was out of the raft and in over my head. I felt submerged
Coordinating Care Underwater Read More »
“Stress is caused by being here but wanting to be there. Or being in the present but wanting to be in the future. It’s a split that tears you apart inside.” Eckhart Tolle Among the biggest obstacles to feeling at peace while caring for a family member can come from our resistance to the role
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“One should . . . be able to see things as hopeless and yet be determined to make them otherwise.” F. Scott Fitzgerald Having hope is vital to our emotional well-being, but when caregiving becomes the predominant focus of your thoughts, it can feel like your purpose, your reason for being, along with your future,
Chained to Caregiving: Hope and the Hostage Read More »
The swirl of negative thoughts and emotions is a significant cause of caregiver anxiety and overwhelm. The worries take over our headspace during the day and keep us awake at night. Our thinking and decisions are as blurred as our eyes from lack of sleep. When overwhelmed, our self-confidence suffers. We feel powerless. Reframing our
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During the time that I cared for Dad, I experienced the raging river of emotions that comes with caring for a family member. Overwhelmed and drowning, I navigated toward a more sustainable caregiving experience. When I learned to set boundaries, use mindfulness to enhance awareness, and identify when winning was losing, I began to manage
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