What's the biggest challenge/s for caregivers to family members with physical conditions vs mental health conditions vs physical+mental issues, etc.? What's your day-to-day like?
(For context, my mum has a host of mental health conditions, which started as post-natal blues. I’m an only child and I’d say my growing up years have been chaotic.)
What makes a caregiver "succeed", be it in a mental sense (no longer bogged down by the work and unforeseen challenges thrown at them), physical sense, work-life balance sense (say you're juggling a side hustle, a full-time role or a company on the side while actively caregiving), etc.?
Sometimes I’m unsure if me being a “responsible” daughter is the reason I take on the duties of caregiving for my parents, like “if not me, then who?”Could it be me wanting to fix the problems at home now that I’m an adult, and be their “saviour”? Could it be the traditional Asian values I’ve learnt… to be filial? Or am I caring for them for a more selfish reason, in exchange for their stable, secure love?
For those who are caregivers (or were), how did you get started? Did you feel like you had a choice? And looking back, what other options did you consider, if any?
(For context, my mum has a host of mental health conditions, which started as post-natal blues. I’m an only child and I’d say my growing up years have been chaotic.)