It’s a cultural norm to reply that we’re “fine” when asked how we’re doing, even if that isn’t always an accurate answer. Caregivers find themselves hiding behind the “I’m fine!” mask even more often than others. In this episode, Justin and Allison discuss the reasons why, how caregivers can begin to say how they really are, and what supporters can do to help.
Even as they do so much for their loved ones, a common feeling experienced by caregivers is guilt. In this episode, Justin and Allison talk about feeling as if they are never doing enough, about how comparison can be dangerous, and the role that guilt plays in their caregiving lives.
Over the past year, Allison has been experiencing increasingly severe panic attacks as well as feeling physically run down. In March, she reached a breaking point that led her to take a month off of work. In this episode, she shares what those challenging weeks were like and what she is doing to heal.
After living with depression and anxiety for many years, Justin recently began a thirty-six day regimen of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). In this episode he shares how he came to the decision to try this course of treatment, what it’s been like so far, and how it has felt to be the one in need of care.
Special guest, Liz Naylor, mother of four children with myotonic muscular dystrophy and Founding Executive Director of My-Vida, joins Allison and Justin to talk about what caregiving looks like from the parent perspective.
As caregivers we are attuned to the needs and moods of our loved ones and spend our days showing them care and compassion. However, we rarely transfer those same skills to ourselves. In this episode, Allison and Justin talk about simple ways we can start to implement self compassion when it comes to our thoughts, moods, and mistakes.
Even in the hardest of times, caregivers often shoulder the weight of it all instead of asking for support. In this episode, Justin and Allison talk about what initially pushed them to reach out for help, why doing so can feel so difficult, and logistically how they made it work.
Caregiving is a lonely role. From moments of being physically alone to situations where no one understands their reality, Allison and Justin talk together about the loneliness of being a caregiver.
From the mundane details of each day to moments of medical emergencies to treatment plans to COVID safety, caregivers are constantly making decisions. In this episode, Justin and Allison talk about what that looks and feels like in their daily lives and how their personalities impact their decision-making skills.
The celebration of Justin’s 40th birthday led him to reflect on where he thought he would be at this time in his life versus where he is. In this episode, he and Allison talk about how becoming caregivers changed their trajectories, how they are trying to claim the role without losing themselves in it, and how to remember and focus on who they are, not just what they do.