The Difficulties of Living With Caregiver Guilt.
Caregivers are too familiar with the feeling of guilt. This feeling usually comes from the idea when you feel like you’re not doing enough or feel as though you could’ve been more kind and more patient. Unfortunately, guilt is sometimes part of the caregiving experience. It is extremely important to address the feeling of guilt because it can leave a caregiver with the feeling of regret and diminishing self-worth. It’s important to acknowledge that the feeling of guilt is a complex feeling and there is no right way to address it. Each of the proposed suggestions can help to overcome the feeling of guilt.
1. Find extra help or hire someone to help you- As a caregiver, you don’t have to do everything alone and it is very important that you ask for help. If you are caring for a loved one, ask other members of your family if they can help you or look into local options to hiring professional support.
2. Talk to a therapist regularly- The pressures of being a caregiver can be overwhelming, which is why it’s important to talk to someone regularly to help manage the stressors and provide you with good coping strategies.
3. Find a supportive community- As a caregiver, it’s important to surround yourself with a community of people that you can lean on to share your frustrations, your joy and all of the emotions that come with being a caregiver.
Being a caregiver can be challenging, however, allow yourself permission to forgive yourself. There is no such thing as a perfect caregiver. It is important that you’re always doing what is best for you and the person you are caring for. Please visit www.memoryz.ca site to get more information on the work we are doing and how we can give you the support you need to be the caregiver you want to be.
