“I don’t know where to turn next. I’ve tried everything to encourage my Dad to start caring better for himself after Mom died, but he just doesn’t quite seem to grasp the need. Or is it a loss of desire to continue living? None of the days after Mom passed were easy for him. He seemed to wither away, lost interest in his hobbies and his moods seem a bit edgier than they used to be. I don’t know what to do….”
Does any of this sound familiar to you? This is a conversation that I had recently with a woman who had helped care for her Mom during her final days and now found herself in a position to do so for her Dad. She is grateful that her husband is very supportive, but he has expressed concerned about what this is doing to her. She seems to be a bit more depressed herself in the past few months; caregiving has taken its toll.
Depression can creep up on you so it’s important to be aware of the signs and things you can do if it happens. In this article; Depression and Caregiving by the Family Caregiving Alliance, they speak specifically to depression.
Seeing a therapist can work wonders, I did so myself as a family caregiver, and it did make a difference. The other things that I did and continue to do post caregiving are also suggested in the article; physical fitness, deep breathing, journaling, and meditation.
You may already know that in the Bay Area of California we are doing weekly walks in partnership with our Affiliate, Bay Area Cancer Connections. Those folks offer amazing support for Ovarian and Breast Cancer patients and also see the increased need to support family caregivers. Join us if you can at our Saturday walk in Mountain View. More information is available on our website about Bay Area Cancer Connections and the walks. All are invited to join us!
UPCOMING EVENT:
2018 ASC Family Caregiver Conference
Register at http://bit.ly/2C6rhYD
May 19th is the ASC Family Caregiver Conference in Campbell, California. This is a wonderful event that I know you will gain much-needed information and support. Please take a minute to see the wonderful topics covered and register. I’ll be there and would love to meet you in person!
Breathing Spaces is here to support you however we can regardless of your location. If you need help, please feel free to reach out. Whatever you can do for yourself today, please do. Take a few minutes to BREATHE…..
Be well….
Hugs,
Cyndi