What do you do when you feel frustrated because you are burned out, unpaid and don't get a break from caregiving?

It's pretty sad that you can't even get a few dollars after changing colostomy bags, cleaning, cooking, emptying buckets of urine and endless loads of laundry (and bullshit). Thanks for letting me vent. Excuse my french, but am getting at the end of my rope and avoid going nuts by all means.

I hate to say that I kinda feel like I am being taken for granted as I have to beg for a few dollars and try to talk to my folk they "act" like they can't hear me. I only leave the house once every several months and it's mostly for doctor's appointments. These nosey unwanted cling ons are clueless. It gets old and very discouraging being treated this way. My Christmas pretty much sucked with a bad tooth being pulled. This is getting pretty damn frustrating. Thanks

PLANE:

That's what I call tips for self-sufficiency.

Boy, I really know how you feel about being burned out and getting no breaks. That just kills you. I still think most days that I just can't keep going, at least some part of the day, but I can tell you I feel so much better just looking on this site and feeling like I can talk to someone or write my thoughts any time I want. This is a wonderful site, just for us, not full of confusing bs but just us, being able to talk. Keep coming back and talk to us. It does help with the burnout.

Thank you for your post, Austin. Am trying to get up and put a little make up on to get to feeling a little more like myself instead of a grumpy old biddy going through the "change of life" at an early age. Think caregiving and stress may have brought that on, but don't every want to be ungrateful. Finally found someone who was very friendly and might be of some help at one of our local carelines. She was very nice and helpful, which is very nice for a change. Maybe it will be eventually be possible to get a little bit of funds to help my folks and me out. Well, guess better go pull my hair back (instead of out lol) to avoid or lower a warm flash and get dinner ready. Also trying to improve my typing skills so that I can get a job relating to caregiving, my MT training and the healthcare industry, but might be kinda difficult this time of year with the holidays coming up. guess it is better to look at it in a more positive light and be grateful my folks are still around and that it not all about money.

First of all I am so sorry for what you are going through there is a great thread here call grossed out my mother is using a comb-------it was started a year ago last Feb and has 20 thousand plus post the caregivers and former caregivers are great they are there themselves or have been you will get lots of love and support there -there are so many in your position-I really urge to get involved with us.

I can relate to you very well i took care of my mom for 2 years i was very burned i didnt get any breaks other than to get out take walks for about 10 mins mahybe 15 mins no-one wouls help me last year around this time i had to put my mother in the Hospital her meds stoped ishe needed 24 hr care she was at the last stages alz dementia. i wwent to support groups that helped me out. December 10 my mom died at 91 yrs old. i'm still burned out from every thing i miss her so,uch. after she went to the hospital nursing home for 3 weeks i went to support groups. i couldnt get any help at all.home health care she had a social worker who did nothing for her. she was from mediciad who checked in her 3 months. iknow what your going through p[lease go to a group in your area dont wait like I did. i tried to get my mom in day care program she wouldnt go . thats another possibilty for you to get your mom to a day care for socialization to meet other people of course to give you a break. i wish you the best take care of yourself..

Planeman has some excellent advice. I second it.
Good luck. This is really a tough place to be. Please let us know how things are going.
Carol

Sometimes it seems that life is a real bitch. Answers are lacking while problems abound. Are you in contact with the school where you learned a job skill? Thay may have an employment section. Being broke is tough. Have you checked your local welfare department. Food stamps are available. While work at home advertisements are often just a scam, you might find work at home in your field. Even though you were sut off from unemployment benefits the department is still available to you for job openings. Check out CraigsList. You might even find work through commercial employment companies, sometimes employers will even pay the fees that are charged. For grooming, there is a group that will help you. There may be a group in your town. One such group is named "Women in Need". Please don't give up.