10 Common Causes of Caregiver Guilt
Wouldn’t it be nice to be a family caregiver who never gets frustrated and is an eternal optimist? Maybe there are some like that out there. If you are one of them, I applaud your emotional strength and resilience. However, many of us who have provided care for aging and ill loved ones do not fall into that category. I know I don’t.
Each day, we face new challenges and try, once again, to solve those that keep recurring. Being a caregiver is hard work, and it is impossible to keep a level head at all times. Moments of sadness, frustration and anger can easily get the best of us and cause our thoughts to take a rather dark turn. Sometimes they can leave us mired in guilt, wondering, “Did I really just think that?”
It’s important to remember that these negative thoughts are a completely normal reaction to a stressful and sometimes thankless situation. Rather than guilting yourself for how you feel, the key to getting past these thoughts is understanding that you’re not the only one who experiences them. Here’s a sampling of common “caregiver confessions” that I’ve heard, and that at times I’ve felt myself.
Difficult Caregiver Thoughts: I have no life of my own, and I’m sick of it…
Continue reading on Agingcare for more about issues that cause caregiver guilt:
Helpful Tools:
Stay connected with Memoryboard: Designed by caregivers. Memoryboard helps families share reminders, messages, updates, and photos on an easy-to-use screen designed for people with dementia. Peace of mind for families, independence for loved ones.
Wetness indicator and alert to help manage incontinence with dignity. SenecaSense Home: Discreet Support That Restores Comfort and Confidence
Leslie Kernisan, MD, MPH, has opened up support! View two free caregiving webinars that can help you help your older parents (and yourself).
Discover the Difference. EGOSAN: The premium incontinence brand caregivers love: They save work! Now Available on Amazon.
Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories: “…This book is for all of us; let it help you cope! Thank you to the author and everyone she spoke with!” …Dolores
Carol, thank you for another thoughtful and compassionate article. Your writing reminds caregivers that they’re not alone and that it’s okay to be human. The practical wisdom you share through *Minding Our Elders* is making a real difference for families every day.
I was honored to share this article with my LinkedIn and Facebook networks, and I’ll continue sharing your outstanding work whenever I can. Thank you for being such a trusted voice and advocate for family caregivers.
Thank you so much for your ongoing support for my work, Jim. I’ve seen some of your shares, but not all of them. You’ve been a caregiver, so you know how much we need a support one another. While we need all the help we can get from compassionate professionals, there’s something special about hearing from someone who has experienced challenges similar to our own. This has been the foundation of Minding Our Elders. Take care of yourself, too, Jim! ~Carol