Being a caregiver is often stressful and lonely. Friends and relatives may be supportive and willing to give the help they can, but they may not understand the fear, loss of independence, and sadness that can befall someone who lives day in and day out with the pressure of wondering if they are doing the right thing. Did I choose the best option? Will I be able to cope with this responsibility? Did I choose the right school or institution? How can I explain to my friends why I can no longer be there for them as I once was? How will I cope if I get ill? And the one parents have sitting on their shoulders year after year. What will happen to my disabled child if I can’t look after them?

So many uncertainties. So many hurdles to overcome. The overwhelming questions, with no right or wrong answer to many, can leave a carer mentally exhausted, leading to even more problems. It is understandable how carers reach the point of giving up, withdrawing into themselves, and just hoping something will work out.

Having negotiated so many of these questions over several decades, fighting my way through depression, loneliness, fear, and illness, not to mention the breakdown of relationships, both friendships and marriage, I can say without doubt I have a wealth of knowledge to share. 

As a mature aged student I majored in Psychology and Sociology with a view to working with parents such as myself. I was wise enough to relalise I was compounding my own weight of responsibility with the problems of others. My personality was not appropriate for one on one councelling so I chose to take the path of writing which I am better suited towards.

I have learned to overcome the grief that was holding me back, and I now find myself finally looking towards a positive future, rather than into the abyss from which I had come. This blog hopes to share some of the insights and strategies that have worked for me over the years.

Every Caregiver has a different story and concerns or responsibilities that are unique to them. Because there are so many of us however, the sharing of those stories are bound to help others in a similar situation. I believe we all have valuable information to share in whatever way feels comfortable.