Are You a Caregiver and Losing Yourself?

Many times, you don’t know how strong or resilient you can be until you become a caregiver. This is a role many will be asked to do throughout their lifetime. Many will take a hard pass while others will take on this role for months and years.

Being a caregiver can be a lonely road to travel, but it can also be one of the most rewarding. When you take on the care of someone you become stronger than you ever imagined you would be, gain a great deal of wisdom along the way, and become a better person. However, many caregivers feel as though they are on an island where no one can see or hear them. So, how do you stop from losing yourself when your days are filled with:

  • meal prep,

  • dressing and showering,

  • doctor visits,

  • medication schedules,

  • answering questions.

As the care for your loved one increases, the time for you decreases, causing you to harshly judge the person you see in the mirror. Instead of seeing that vibrant person you simply see a blurry image of the person you used to be, based on the emotional toll of feelings you go through.

  • Guilt

  • Frustration

  • Loneliness

  • Loss

  • Fear

It’s no wonder many caregivers feel lost.

But you are not alone.

According to The Family Care Alliance, there are a total of 43.5 million caregivers caring for a loved one and this number increases each year. Even though you are not alone, why do you feel so alone? When you take on the role of caregiver it can be a lonely road. Only the family members directly involved can understand what you are going through, but only you truly know the toll it can take on your self-worth.

This is why it’s so important you do things for yourself. Here are some simple ways you can do that:

  • Find your quiet place. Whether that be the bathroom, a closet, or your car. It’s important to have a place you can simply go to, breathe, and let go.

  • Self-care is an important priority so you are able to be at your best and able to handle any given situation. That can be a break, energy medicine, a meal out, etc.

  • Get involved in a local support group or find someone you can talk to who will listen with an open heart and mind.

  • Start a journal where you write down anything that comes to your mind. This will help you to let it go and vent without judgment or having to say you’re sorry. This is simply to help you release your feelings onto paper and get it out of your mind and heart.

  • Bring in a family member or get in touch with a service that can come in once a week or once a month for a couple of hours to give you time away. Take this time to go to the park, have a cup of coffee and watch the world go by, spend time with a good friend or simply go for a walk.

When you take time for yourself you help build your reserve so that you can continue to be the caregiver. Granted many may say, I barely have time to take a shower let alone do something for myself. But you can manage your time by doing things for yourself when your loved one takes a nap or is in bed for the night. Even a few minutes of quiet time and release can help you to refuel your body and mind.

Here are a few resources that can help you further:

Family Caregiver Alliance - https://www.caregiver.org/caregiver-resources/

Alzheimer’s Association - https://www.alz.org/

AARP - https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/

Caring.com - https://www.caring.com/

When you need some help to release feel free to get in touch with me, Carolyn Osborn of Chiron Energy Medicine.

Here’s to caring for you.

Carolyn Osborn

Clean Up Your Energy, Clean Up Your Life. For People & Pets. 

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P.S. Our newest program has been announced and is featured right on our website homepage or in our sessions menu: Chiron Mirror Sessions • Tandem Healing for You and Your Animal. It is designed to help you discover the deep healing that awaits you and your animal when you are guided to release unwanted behaviors and unconscious wounds and patterns of suppressed emotions and traumas that trigger dis-ease or illness if left unattended.

You can also gain knowledge about how energy medicine and intuitive messages can help us recognize and adjust to changes that are affecting us, as well as our animals with many of our programs. Even when we may not recognize it— there are messages your dogs, cats, horses and other pets wish they could tell you directly—as they seek to give you loving help. Chiron Energy Medicine offers several options as linked below:

See or learn more about our sessions and packages for people or animals here and view our equine and performance sessions or packages here.

You may request an Introductory Consultation here.