If we have a spouse who's sick, or a parent or child for that matter, we can often feel pressure and responsibility to focus on being a caregiver, and forgo caring for ourselves. This is what happened to me back in 2018.
In this episode I talk about my wife's health issues and how I nearly fell apart until I realized my own self care was a critically important thing I needed to practice. Why? Because if I wasn't OK, how could I possibly take good care of my wife, kids, or clients?
In addition to sharing some of the challenges and emotions I've faced, I also talk about the self-care strategies I've developed over the years. Feel free to try what I've done, or develop strategies of your own. Either way, my goal in sharing is to help you get to a better place than you're currently in — and to let you know that you are not alone.
When we're the caregiver for a loved one, "sucking it up," and just "dealing with it," are philosophies that have no place. They don't work, and they don't address our needs, feelings and mental health — which are important, too!
Some of the MANAGEABLE, SUSTAINABLE strategies I talk about are:
- Meditation
- Mindfulness
- Acceptance
- Exercise
- Joining a mens' group
- Seeing a qualified therapist
I hope the episode helps, and I wish you and your loved one well.