Burning Brightly Without Getting Burnt Out
Dear Caregivers,
On Wednesday we’ll be treated to a night of celestial fireworks. The biggest meteor shower of the year, known as the Perseids, will take place under what is projected to be ideal viewing conditions here in Florida: The moon will not be up, and the sky in our part of the world is predicted to be mostly clear. All you have to do is go outside somewhere where it's dark, in the late evening, and look up!
Meteors flare into bright light as the tiny particles of rock enter the atmosphere and burn up due to the friction of the air. As lovely as the effects are in the sky, however, such a "flameout" is not something we want to see closer to home. Like a shooting star, your beacon of love and dedication shines brightly in your family and community; but overextending yourself can lead to serious challenges for your body and mind.
Study after study has shown that caregivers suffer from higher rates of stress, anxiety, and depression, as well as heart disease and even dementia. The solution, of course, is to be as steadfast in caring for yourself as you are for others. Your personal NAN Navigator is dedicated to helping you maintain practices that will keep you healthy in body, mind, and spirit, so you can continue your efforts without “flaming out”.
Here is some more guidance on keeping healthy as a caregiver:
Caregiver Burnout: How to Cope:
Caregiving for someone suffering from Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most challenging jobs in the world, and it comes with a risk of what is known as “Caregiver Burnout.” With caregiver burnout, you are in a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that may also be coupled with a change in your attitude towards your caregiving role, from one of positive, caring, and rewarding to one of feeling negative, unconcerned, and resentful. Here's what you can do to cope with it.
The Challenges of Role Reversal in Caregiving:
You likely spent most of your life seeing your parent as a provider, protector, and decision-maker. Now, it is you who are in the role of being provider, protector, and decision-maker in your parent's life. Here’s how to manage that transition.
Caregiver Guilt:
Feelings of guilt are normal for caregivers, yet they are difficult to process. Recognizing and understanding the source of the guilt is the first step towards finding a way to cope with these feelings. Here are some of the more common reasons caregivers give for feeling guilty, and strategies for coping.
Best,
Rosemary D Laird, MD, MHSA
Founder and Chief Medical Officer
“Rest and recharge. This is not optional. Taking better care of yourself will translate to better outcomes for your loved one."
— Leeza Gibbons
