Things to Think About

By Suzanne Mintz, National Family Caregivers Association

What feelings and emotions do you associate with your caregiving experience - frustration, sadness, grief, love, kindness, compassion, anger, pride, or guilt? Have you talked to other people about them, your loved one, a therapist, another family member or friend, another family caregiver perhaps? Talking about your feelings with others can really help you understand them better.

Have you thought about putting your thoughts down on paper, either in a poem or in a journal? Writing poetry and journaling are both good ways to get in touch with the emotions that caregiving arouses. They help us get underneath the crust we sometimes form as a protective coating against these emotions. Personal poems and journals don't have to be shared with anyone else. They can be your own private record of your inner self. They aren't about winning the Pulitzer Prize. They are about coming to terms with the life that the winds of chance have blown your way.

Recognize that you are not alone. There are millions of other family caregivers in America, more than fifty million in fact, that have the same thoughts and feelings that we do. There is no reason to be ashamed or embarrassed about any of your feelings. Remember that the emotions you feel are the common threads that tie you to others who care for a loved one who is chronically ill, disabled, or aged.

A Family Caregiver Speaks Up

The above is an excerpt from Suzanne Mintz' latest book: A Family Caregiver Speaks Up: "It Doesn't Have to Be This Hard." She is a nationally recognized advocate and the award-winning President of the National Family Caregivers Association. Mintz has cared for her husband, Steven who has MS for over thirty years. Her book tells of her own inspiring story and expert advice for America's millions of caregivers to speak up for themselves, the loved ones in their care, and all family caregivers. Note the quote marks around the subtitle are integral to it.

Click here to learn more and purchase the book

 

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