katrina, caring for someone with depression is a hard thing to do. How long have you been helping your father? I don't know if I would have the ability to care for a depressed person for long. I would probably become depressed myself. How do you keep yourself out of the despair?
Katrinaj - could you let us know more about your situation? Your comment leads me to believe that you are getting sucked into caregiving to the detriment of husband/children. Is that correct? Let us know - there are great people on this site. Please answer
I understand. I've been going through this for a year and a half. My mother has Alzheimer's. She's 88 and my dad is 93. For over a year I was up there 4 to 5 days a week anywhere from 3 to 6 hours. I have a sister that lives 40 minutes away and started out coming two days. That lasted about five months and only comes one day. For the last six months I had to get a caregiver to help out. Any relationship with my sister has dwindled because she has alienated me and doesn't get what I go through. I'm sad that we have no communication. She is very condescending and negative anytime I try to fill her in on things. She only sees them for like three hours one day a week. I go to my parents every night to help my mother before bed. I'm mentally exhausted and physically ill over this and I know it's going to get worse. I also have to deal with my father's moods because he also doesn't get all the time what my mother is going through. I cry in the car almost every night when I leave there. I feel so alone at times even though my son and my husband finally get what I go through.
I know being a caregiver is very hard and it does take a toll. Please consider accessing community resources, seeking out counseling or joining a support group. There is help. Please take care.
Katrina, could you give us more information. Who are you caring for, does the person live in their own home, or with you? What is the person medical or memory issues? Are you working full-time employment, or spending full-time as a caregiver, etc. You're right, caregiving is so very draining :[
With the added information, we could give you better answers :)
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I cry in the car almost every night when I leave there. I feel so alone at times even though my son and my husband finally get what I go through.
I know being a caregiver is very hard and it does take a toll. Please consider accessing community resources, seeking out counseling or joining a support group. There is help. Please take care.
With the added information, we could give you better answers :)