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YOUR CART

6/22/2013

When You Reach the End of the Caregiving Rope

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Are you a family caregiver at the end of your proverbial rope? If the answer is yes, hang on and read on! You have options:

1.      You can tie a knot in the end of the rope and hang on for dear life in hopes that some miraculous rescue will occur before your strength gives out and you fall into the abyss of overwhelm, frustration and caregiver burnout below. (I don’t recommend this option, since, in my experience miraculous rescuers are few and I usually go for a more proactive option, anyway. Plus, if you fall and hit the rocks below, it really hurts!)

2.      You can tie a noose with the rope and figuratively hang yourself, in essence, giving up your own precious life by giving in to negativity, depression, and despair. By giving up, you shift all responsibility for caregiving to someone else and abdicate your role. (I certainly don’t recommend this option, since I believe whole-heartedly in Life with a capital “L” and that love has amazing powers to heal and keep us whole! But you would be surprised how many people choose this)

3.      You can swing on the rope trying to clear the canyon of caregiver destruction beneath you and get on solid ground. (This is a marginally better choice than #1 or #2, but still doesn’t work for me)

4.      You can use the rope to make a hammock of support beneath you – a place you can relax, rest and renew your strength, inner resources, and commitment to the caregiving journey. Eventually, your rope hammock can become a rope bridge allowing you to safely navigate across the caregiver chasm and keep your life and sanity in the process. (Now, I admit I am biased, but this is the one I would choose.)

This post is an excerpt from my soon-to-be-published ebook, which provides practical tips and gentle self-care and self-nurturing techniques to make life less of a struggle and more of a loving learning experience. If you are tired of struggling and dangling your way through the uncertainties of caregiving, please sign up to receive a release notice when Sanity Savers: For Caregivers at the End of Their Rope  is published. Find support for a more balanced, healthy, life-enhancing approach to giving care – a hopeful, positive way that includes you along with your care-receiver.



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Susan
6/22/2013 10:43:59 pm

Cool photo....and great writing to draw those in need to definitely follow. xoxo

Karen
6/24/2013 03:04:49 am

Thanks! It is my fervent hope that those who need it will be drawn to this book...

Senior home care atlanta link
7/19/2013 12:32:49 am

This is what i am looking for. great post, it is very helpful and informative. Keep it up. two thumbs up here...

Karen link
7/19/2013 10:15:41 am

Thanks so much for your kind, supportive comments about the site and the Sanity Savers ebook. I'm working to get it published very soon and it is my fervent hope it will be of help to the many caregivers, family and professional, who are dealing with the everyday reality & challenge of caring for our elders. If you'd like to be informed of the publication release, please add your email address on the site and I'll be happy to let you know. Privacy is protected, of course, since that is very important. Please share the caregiverwellness.biz website with anyone you feel will benefit. Blessings!


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    About Karen

    Karen is a compassionate, enthusiastic student of life, who cared for her mother for 17 years. She brings her insights, compassion, experience and desire to share knowledge and healing to this ongoing conversation with others on the caregiving path. If you are caring for a parent, spouse, friend or other loved one this site offers sanity-saving tips, open-hearted self-care ideas, and an open forum for discussion, connection and sharing resources for the journey.

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