SisterCarrie gave a hug
10/30/2010 at 10:55 am
I am touched by your username, and I know something of what you're feeling. We are led to believe that giving care and love is energizing and rejuvenating, and that's true to a point. But past a certa
...Read MoreI am touched by your username, and I know something of what you're feeling. We are led to believe that giving care and love is energizing and rejuvenating, and that's true to a point. But past a certain point, we need to recharge our spirits, hearts, minds and bodies. It helps me to remember that the holy people wisdom-givers of history took time to themselves: Old Testament prophets, Jesus Christ, the Buddha, Ghandi, etc.
I don't know your situation, but one thing that helped me was asking for help. It was a VERY hard bridge to cross, but on the other side there's a lot of help, some even free! It may seem like too much effort to do it, (and usually it's not perfect!) but accepting volunteer respite-givers, local Aging Services, etc.helps me keep my sanity. You might follow the links on some of these sites. I was amazed at how much it helped me to talk to professionals about what is possible for my old ones and me in our circumstances, even if I'm able to use their services at the time.
Another thing that has helped me is purely COPYing the ideas and suggestions I have found on forums and boards such as this one.
My very best wishes and prayers to you that you can find some rest and solutions. You can write to me about your struggles. I'm no expert. Sometimes it helps to vent to someone who has had similar experience, knowing that no two of us are the same.
I had my husband's mother with Alzheimer's and my dad with Alz. plus Lewy-body dementia and Parkinsons, both in our home full time for nearly 4 years.
Love, Carrie
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