Feeling Trapped by Caregiving?
Sep 05, 2022Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the responsibilities of caregiving?
Many of our clients who care for a family member tell us they not only feel overwhelmed…
They sometimes feel trapped.
Some even liken it to a sense of imprisonment.
You can imagine the experience…
Or you may be living it right now.
From your “cell” you’re watching life go by…
Friends stop calling...
And you begin to feel more isolated…
With very little or no social interaction with anyone other than the person in your care.
Days turn into weeks…
And before you know it, you’re numb to it.
Your social interactions are limited to doctor's appointments and weekly runs to the grocery store.
And when the occasional opportunity to “break out” presents itself, you talk yourself out of it.
- “I don’t have time to go.”
- “I can’t leave because he/she won’t let me out of their sight.”
- "I'm too tired to do anything."
You accept that it’s "just the way it is."
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone.
Studies show that between 40 and 70% of family caregivers experience clinical symptoms of depression due to feelings of isolation and loneliness. [Zarit, S. (2006). Assessment of Family Caregivers: A Research Perspective.]
We want to offer that it doesn’t have to be that way.
And for the sake of your own mental and physical health...
It simply can’t be.
Take the fact that you’re reading this as a sign that it’s time...
Time for you to control what you can…
And plan your "escape"...
For a few hours or maybe a few days.
Even if you don't mind being alone, as a human being you are hard-wired for emotional connection, so:
- Call a friend and make a lunch date
- Schedule time to have coffee with a neighbor you enjoy
- Say yes to social opportunities…even when you want to say no
You'll be surprised by how much better you feel afterwards.
If you're not comfortable leaving your loved one alone:
- Ask a family member or friend for help
- Look into community resources in your area, such as day programs or home care
- And if you're worried about how your loved one will respond...
Schedule a consultation to learn more about private coaching.
We teach our clients how to overcome seemingly "impossible" situations...
And we can do the same for you.
As the saying goes...
"If you change nothing, nothing will change."
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