💥Are Family Caregivers the New "Silent Generation"?🤫TIME for ACTION, Less Rhetoric! HOW?🤔
#community #caregiverburnout #familycaregivers #emotionalhealth #anxietyanddepression #familydynamics #dementiacare #dementiasupport #seekhelp
📢📢This is my "SOAPBOX" rally cry!!💥
Have we GEN X, Millennials, GenZ and even (in years to come), Gen Alpha, Family Caregivers become the new "SILENT GENERATION"?
❓WHY this question?
Despite the wonderful efforts, progress in Geriatric AND Holistic Care, a few policies here and there- DIY books on how to be a Family Caregiver, work, deal with Family matters, personal matters AND maintain good MENTAL HEALTH...,
Many Caregivers STILL feel unheard, unseen and have, like our grandparents and parents, have done as THEY did- become silent, hunker down and stick to the status quo; "say nothing; agitate for nothing" , and you will be SAFE".🤫
💥TIME TO TAKE ACTION!💪🏽🫱🏽🫲🏼🫱🏽🫲🏾
"It takes a VILLAGE to take care adequately for Older Persons with mental or physical decline, and we MUST use what we have IN HAND, gather n your local Community centre , or families (2 or 3) in a small "get together safe space to air concerns, but also pool our resources to assist and MAKE CHANGE HAPPEN!💪🏽🪧
Family Caregiving is NOT for the faint hearted and despite our best intentions, the daily grind, the fatigue, the unexpected (almost everyday!), the loneliness, can lead to a cascade of emotions that can be difficult to understand, much less process, and leave you feeling as if "there is no way out".
The "superhero🦸🏽 cape" needs to come off and it's time for us ALL to START something.
❓💥DO YOU AGREE/DISAGREE?
❓What would you suggest?
💯BETTER TOGETHER- for our own MENTAL , physical , social AND emotional health!!🫱🏽🫲🏼💞
From my heart to yours💗
Dr. Lana
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If you're a Family Caregiver and/or Fellow Physician at your wit's end, needing a different perspective, set up your free 15-minute ZOOM coaching call-also by email -lana@lanaannemd.com.
I always look forward to meeting Fellow Family Caregivers and Medical Colleagues- we gotta stick together!💯
Compassion Fatigue What is it? Is this YOU?#compassionfatigue #caregiverburnout #familycaregivers #emotionalhealth #emotionalrollercoasters #anxietyanddepression #familydynamics #dementiacare #dementiasupport #seekhelp
You have cared and cared, and taken care of- and now you can care NO MORE!😩😩
COMPASSION FATIGUE may be defined this way:
"When a caregiver takes on the emotional stress and trauma of a person within their care. It causes a lack of empathy (understanding the feelings and situations of someone else) or a lack of care for the person within your care."
Some signs and symptoms:
4 PHYSICAL:
1/🕯️Changes in sleep patterns - especially unable to get or stay asleep
2/🕯️ Physical exhaustion- you feel listless
3/ 🕯️Changes in appetite and/or weight. (increased or decreased)
4/ 🕯️Unexplained headaches- notably. a throbbing" sensation top, sides or forehead
4 EMOTIONAL
1/ 🕯️Withdrawal from friends, family and other loved ones - you just don't want to talk to anyone - you DISCONNECT, especially if you feel no one cares
2/🕯️Loss of interest in activities previously enjoyed - don't have the energy to care
3/ 🕯️Feeling hopeless and helpless, irritable; (and yes, even resentment towards the person you care for angry, sad, guilty😡😤😒🥹
4/ 🕯️You self-neglect in many ways - you may see no point, or could not care for how people see you- it doesn't matter😔
What CAN you do?
4 WAYS TO COPE:
1/ 😊Be AWARE of your feelings- it happens- it's normal ; NOTHING is "wrong with you"💓
2/ 😊🫂TALK- share how you feel with a trusted friend who maybe able to offer suggestions , or even practical assistance. The BEST "Listener " is GOD, -pray and pray and pray!
3/ 💃🏽🚶🏽🏃🏽🎽👟EXERCISE- even 5 minutes a day- go to the bathroom just to take some deep breaths!
4/ 😊🫂CONNECT! with friends- Facetime, a phone call, or invite for a cup of tea- whatever you do , you need to be with "your tribe"
💥💥Call 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (U.S.). Someone is available to help you 24/7. Seek your local hotline crisis centre if you feel so overwhelmed that you are considering self harm.
When you have been thrust into this role and feel that all your best efforts at the daily grind is more than you can bear, compassion fatigue is a condition that NEEDS help; it is more than just "feeling tired".
The "superhero cape" needs to come off and it's time for YOU.
You got this!
One day/hour at a time
From my heart to yours💗
Dr. Lana
Family Caregiver Burnout - When It's TOO MUCH 🕯️😤
#caregiverburnout #familycaregivers #emotionalhealth #emotionalrollercoasters #anxietyanddepression #familydynamics #dementiacare #dementiasupport #seekhelp
Family Caregiving is NOT for the faint hearted and despite our best intentions, the daily grind, the fatigue, the unexpected (almost everyday!), the loneliness, can lead to a cascade of emotions that can be difficult to understand, much less process, and leave you feeling as if "there is no way out".
When this goes on and on and there is that feeling of hopelessness and helplessness, consider the possibility that your "candle" is "burning down" and you are on fumes, endangering your health as you devote irretrievable time and money to care for your loved one, with the best of intentions.
CAREGIVER BURNOUT can be defined as :
"A state of physical, emotional and mental exhaustion that can happen when you dedicate time and energy to manage the health and safety of someone else. Caregivers who experience burnout may feel tired, stressed, withdrawn, anxious and depressed. Caregiver burnout can impact a person in various ways, including physically, psychologically, financially and socially".
Some signs and symptoms:
🕯️Emotional and physical exhaustion.
🕯️Withdrawal from friends, family and other loved ones.
🕯️Loss of interest in activities previously enjoyed.
🕯️Feeling hopeless and helpless.
🕯️Changes in appetite and/or weight.
🕯️Changes in sleep patterns.
🕯️Unable to concentrate.
🕯️Getting sick more often.
🕯️Irritability, frustration or anger toward others, many times against family members and friends who just don't seem to understand.
💥💥Call 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (U.S.). Someone is available to help you 24/7. Seek your local hotline crisis centre if you feel so overwhelmed that you are considering self harm.
When you have been thrust into this role and feel that all your best efforts at the daily grind is more than you can bear, burnout is a condition that NEEDS help; it is more than just "feeling tired".
The "superhero cape" needs to come off and it's time for YOU.
You got this!
One day/hour at a time
From my heart to yours💗
Dr. Lana
.........................................................
If you're a Family Caregiver at your wit's end, needing a different perspective, set up your free 15-minute coaching call-also by email -lana@lanaannemd.com - or on www.lanaslittlethings.com
I always look forward to meeting Fellow Family Caregivers- we gotta stick together!💯
