In today's episode, I want to share my personal development and the shifts I had to make to reduce my caregiver stress and avoid burnout. I hope my experiences get you to think through your routines and start rethinking your caregiving and seeing the importance of doing what's best for you while still providing the best care for your loved one.
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I was judgmental. I looked at those people sitting in the chemotherapy chairs alone and couldn’t believe that their family or spouse or a friend wasn’t sitting with them. I thought to myself, I will never do that to my spouse or parent. I would sit there no matter what. Those were my thoughts in 2017 and again in 2019.
Well today, I didn’t. I attended my spouse's oncologist appointment and then left him at chemotherapy.
After much thought and discussions with my spouse, I have made the decision that I don’t have to be at everything. He will be ok and is in good care and…. I can spend some time and energy elsewhere.
I feel like this is a huge mindset shift and growth for me. It has taken me a very, very long time to do this. I don’t have to control and be there for everything.
Yes, I have to fight the guilt and the gremlins in my head saying that I should be there. But I know the biggest mistakes I see caregivers make is stretching themselves so thin that stress and burnout sets in very fast.
