To the Version of Me That Struggled on Mother's Day: Your Feelings Are Valid AF
Mother's Day. A holiday filled with flowers, brunches, and heartfelt cards for many. But for those of us navigating the choppy waters of Alzheimer's with our mom, it has become a day of confronting loss, lowered expectations, and lonely heartache.
Growing Up in Reverse: How Caring for My Mom Made Me a Better Adult
This is hard. It's messy and complicated and it will push you to your limits in ways you never imagined and may not want to admit. But it will also show you what you're made of. It will teach you lessons that you couldn't learn any other way. And it will give you a sense of purpose and meaning that goes beyond anything you ever thought possible.
Hindsight Healing: Making Peace with Mom's Diagnosis and My Own Expectations
When my mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, it was like my whole world tilted on its axis. Suddenly, all the little things that I'd brushed off or explained away over the years started to make a sick kind of sense. The forgotten birthdays, the repeated stories, the times she'd call me manic about things that were so small they shouldn’t typically have such an intense impact on people - it all clicked into place like some twisted puzzle I never wanted to solve.
I'm Not the Friend I Used to Be: How Caregiving Changed My Relationships
I'm not gonna lie; I've felt pretty isolated from my friends since my mom's diagnosis. It's hard to relate to their everyday drama and life experiences when I'm dealing with my mom forgetting who I am, trying to break out of my home, and yelling that her daughter is missing. And if I'm being brutally honest, sometimes I catch myself avoiding certain people because I'm straight-up jealous of their relationship with their mom.
Selfish? More Like Self-Preservation: Embracing Self-Care as a Caregiver
I used to think that being a good caregiver meant running myself into the ground. I thought that if I wasn't completely exhausted physically, spiritually, and emotionally, then I wasn't doing enough for my mom or it meant that I was probably caregiving the wrong way if I had any semblance of peace. But you know what? That's just a one-way ticket to Resentment City, population: me.
When The Storms of Life Have You Feeling Isolated
As an ambivert who cherishes solitude and finds solace in quiet moments, I initially thought I would thrive in this new reality. I eagerly anticipated the opportunity to embrace the introvert within me, believing that the isolation would be a welcome respite from the demands of social interaction. However, as the days turned into weeks and the weeks into months, I found myself grappling with a tempest of emotions I never saw coming.
Love, Faith, and Alzheimer’s: Embracing the Journey
Navigating life with my mom as she faces the challenges of Alzheimer’s has been an eye-opening experience. It's teaching me about the depth of faith and the essence of unconditional love. There’s a realization hitting me hard lately: the connections we have with our loved ones are much more profound than mere memories—they're rooted deep within our souls.
Sharing My Alzheimer's Caregiver Story Online: How I Found Support, Connection, and Healing
When I first started sharing my experience as an Alzheimer's caregiver online, it wasn't because I had it all figured out. Far from it. I was lost, overwhelmed, and desperate for connection. I had searched high and low for a support group that felt like home, a place where I could share the raw, unfiltered reality of my journey without fear of judgment or pity. But in my small, isolated town, those resources were practically nonexistent.