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Meet fellow Caregivers - Introduce yourself

Caregivers | Last Active: Nov 12, 2023 | Replies (707)

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@IndianaScott

Hello, @opheli @jugar and @gingerw I'll second the idea of the help Al-Alnon and the AA principles can be for caregiving. I grew up with an alcoholic father and spent a decade and a half as a caregiver for my wife. While it took several 'tries' by my dad for him to find his sobriety, my going through the family part of the program as well as years of Al-Anon were a wonderful help to me. Most of all, for me, the one-day-at-a-time philosophy helped me exist during those years of caregiving. Later some other steps helped my wife in her final months when she also embraced the wisdom of steps such as making amends.

One of the most challenging aspects of caregiving for me was accepting that there were many things I couldn't change, just like my father's alcoholism. I struggled early with accepting the fact family had no interest in helping, friends and family who ghosted on us, and some of the decisions my wife made that I might have made differently. It took me time to understand that there was little to be gained by my trying to make uncaring people care.

Strength, courage, and peace

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Replies to "Hello, @opheli @jugar and @gingerw I'll second the idea of the help Al-Alnon and the AA..."

Ginger,Scott, and Colleen, Thank you for welcoming me to the group, and for your kind comments.
Scott, I agree that accepting what we cannot change is one of the most difficult aspects of caregiving, and maybe life in general! And letting go can be a breath of fresh air. 🙂
Ginger, my husband had his first treatment of this new cycle, today. I don’t think I was quite prepared for that feeling of stepping back in time to what treatment is like for him. He has been feeling almost like his "old self" lately, so it’s difficult to watch him have to go thru it again. He will also not be able to go to work on a regular basis, so that will throw us both off. We do better when in our "routine." He is now scheduled for four treatment cycles, and then they will see where he is at.
Thank you all again….i am so appreciative of being able to have open and honest dialogue with others who have "been there, done that…"

This was very helpful. Let’s stay in touch.