Caregiving; death by a thousand cuts
Those who have been through it will fully understand; those who have not are lucky. I have been sick since Saturday. From what? Caregiving fatigue, exhaustion, anxiety, etc. all triggered by this Mother's day weekend. I started not feeling well in anticipation for this weekend and then when Mother's Day actually came. At first I did not know why I was so exhausted and just not feeling well. I have body aches and overall malaise. I do not seem to have any actual illness that could explain these symptoms. Then a thought about it and remembered that I have been stressed about Mother's Day. Why? Because for around 25 years, my family and I have been caregiving for our mother in some capacity. She now has Dementia on top of eveything else. Each holiday she is worse and worse. It is horrible to see it. We were able to take her out or have a nice celebration at home for her int he past. Now this is the first year that we had to celebrate with her at the facility where she lives. I literally makes me sick to my stomach. The intense effect that caregiving has on people is on so many levels that it is unbelievable. It does not seem possible that it can affect you in so many ways but it does. To all of you caregivers, take care of yourselves the best that you can. Take those moments for yourself. I felt like I wanted to stay in bed and be depressed all day, but NO, I got out and went to get a cheapy manicure just to get out of the house and do something nice for myself. Caregivers, try your best to take good care of yourselves!