Yesterday was one of those 10 hour days, one problem just snowballed into another one. I came home and went to sleep but woke up this morning with my neck and shoulders in knots and I know that is just from being so uptight around them but when I get that stressed I wake up achey and a bad sore throat. I have bad body aches and my day is mostly spent on the couch recovering. So a day with my parents is turned into a day with them and another day recovering.
Just wondering if anyone else felt this way.
I have a whole box in case of emergency. Where do I it?
Pirate and Lilli hit the nail on the head. Caregiving is a labyrinth of physical work and a roller coaster of emotions. The chronic stress never ends. On top of that, you have to juggle the little personal life you have left. Your marriage begins to unravel, your children start giving you lip, and your budget gets tighter and tighter. No wonder so many caregivers take to the drink and start popping pills to escape or block it all out. ... and I wouldn't be surprised if some of them ran out the back door screaming into the night, buck naked and with a glove on their heads.
If you're caregiving by choice, you can opt to walk away. But somehow I sense you're stuck with it (trapped is more like it). That being the case, time management and prioritizing are of the essence if you are to hang on to your sanity and be there for others who still love you very much.
-- ED
As I write, I am sick to my stomach...chewing on peppermints to calm it. The thing that worries me the most is that there is no good placement for her now. She is nearing the end of time of living independently and I do not want her to go to a facility. She does not want to live with family. She is scared, I am scared that she is scared, and I simply do not know what to do. Losing sleep...many other things on my plate right now...I just want to escape for a few days - just to get my head straight - but can't.
So, to make a long story short, YES I do know what you are going through. I am sorry that I do not have a solution....but I find solace here in this forum. So many kind and generous voices.
Good luck,
Lilli