The Cancer Caregiver

Have you ever been shut down by the two most frustrating words of caregiving: 'at least'? In this episode, we talk about why those words hurt so much and how to support caregivers in a more helpful way. Find the full transcript at https://www.loveyourcaregivinglife.com

A brief summary of this episode

Feeling stressed about mealtime as a caregiver? It's a common struggle that can create a lot of unnecessary pressure. But what if I told you there's an organization that can help ease that burden?  Listen to the latest episode of our podcast as we talk to Courtney Johnson, founder of Culinary Care, and learn how her organization is supporting families living with cancer, one meal at a time.  Don't...

Caregiving can be exhausting, but taking care of yourself doesn't have to be. In this episode, we're talking about the power of an evening ritual to help you feel refreshed and rejuvenated for the next day.  From simple habits to mindset shifts, we'll share easy-to-implement tips that will help you make the most of your evenings. Tune in and discover how small changes can lead to big benefits! Fin...

Are you tired of starting your caregiving day feeling stressed and overwhelmed?  It's time for a change!  Join us in this episode to learn how to transform your morning routine into a calming ritual that sets the tone for a positive day ahead.  From simple habits to powerful affirmations, we've got you covered. Let's start your day off right!

Calling all caregivers!  Are you struggling to prioritize self-care and feeling guilty about taking time for yourself? You're not alone. In this episode, we discuss the power of creating small rituals to reduce stress and improve well-being. Join us as we share our personal experiences and tips to help you establish self-care practices that fit into your busy schedule. Find more caregiving content...

Are you feeling burnt out from caregiving?  It's time to prioritize your own needs! Join us in this episode as we share simple daily self-care rituals that will help you feel centered and calm. Because self-care doesn't have to be a big production, it can be as simple as integrating little rituals into your day.

Are you a caregiver who's anxious about the prospect of needing care yourself? Or are you someone who wants to understand the complexities of caregiving from a different perspective? In this episode, Charlotte explores the flip side of caregiving - when she becomes the care receiver. Listen in as she delves into her experience as a caregiver who had to face her fears of needing care during her rec...

In this episode, Charlotte discusses resentment as it relates to caregiving. Resentment is a complex and multilayered emotion that can arise in response to perceived wrongdoing, such as feeling invisible or unappreciated as a caregiver. As a caregiver, it's common to feel a range of emotions like fear, anger, and worry, but resentment is different and can be particularly challenging to manage. Cha...

In this episode, we explore the powerful benefits of singing and humming, and how it can reduce stress and improve mental health. As a caregiver, it can be difficult to find time for self-care, but singing and humming can be done anytime and anywhere. Charlotte shares how singing has been a source of comfort and self-care for her, and provides tips for incorporating it into your daily routine. Whe...

Knowing that you are unhappy with being a caregiver is not enough.  You have to want more. You have to believe you deserve more. Being able to enjoy time with your loved one while they are still here has to mean more.  But unless you really want change it will never happen. My words mean nothing. This feeling you have right now whether it be hope for a brighter future or a sliver of inspiration wi...

A piece of caregiving advice. When asking someone to help you… play to their strengths.  Play to a person’s strengths or interests and you will have a better time getting the support you need.  For example… I have a friend that helps me by making meals at times when caregiving is stressful. She just knows when to jump in.  She also knows how to mow a lawn… I’ve seen her do it.  She’ll enjoy making...

"It's often the small things that break caregivers down, even though they try to put on a strong front. In this episode, you are encouraged to identify what tasks or chores they struggle with the most and accept help with them.   Listen to learn of the importance of letting go of the myth that caregivers should do everything on their own and how slowing down is necessary for self-care.   Find more...

Feel like just getting by isn’t enough for you anymore? Yes, you're “getting by” with how things are right now.  The purpose is, however, to find a way to help you enjoy life as a caregiver.  That doesn’t mean enjoy caregiving. If you do that’s fine but you don’t have to.  What I would hope for you is that you can enjoy your life even though you are a caregiver.  So let’s just try to consider doin...

Would you like to be able to gain the help you deserve but always find yourself at a loss when people ask how they can help you? In this episode, I share the process I go through with caregivers I work with. In short, it all comes down to realizing how much you do all day and most importantly what you really could benefit from not doing.  In this episode, I explain how to go about identifying ever...

Do you hate it when people tell you to let them know how they can help? Caregiving Confession… over time I started to get angry when people told me to let them know how they can help. It felt like an empty offer. Almost like someone asking me how I was and not expecting me to say anything but “I’m ok”. I found it a little insensitive sometimes because I felt they were giving me more work to think...

I’ve made the mistake of being a do it all caregiver.  I controlled what I could at a time of high anxiety and stress.  There were too many moving parts and if I didn’t map out their trajectory from the very start I was worried there would be a cataclysmic crash that would result in me … feeling like a failure! It didn’t take long before I began to feel the effects of doing it all. My outlet becam...

Historically February is the worst month of the year for me. I just always feel stuck.  This is the time of the year that I sit bitterly watching reality tv shows that take place in the tropics or binge watch anything that takes place in another part of the world so I can both hate that I’m not there and fantasize about being there. During this time I have to work hard to limit complaining to my f...

Caregiving changes relationships. It makes things weird, messy, and complicated at best, and it closes the book on what was our relationship with the loved ones we care for. You just want to be in the story you were living before caregiving. Then one day you look at yourself in the mirror and realize you don’t recognize the person looking back at you. Listen to episode 148 to hear how finding your...

This episode is an interview with August Spree from Twist Out Cancer. Listen today to learn about the wonderful art based programs Twist Out Cancer provides for cancer survivors, previvors and cancer caregivers! Find links to Twist Out Cancer programs at https://www.loveyourcaregivinglife.com

Do you feel like you had a choice in becoming a caregiver?  Most people become caregivers because it just made sense. You were the one that was dependable enough, strong enough and the one who didn’t know to or couldn’t say no.  That’s the problem. Most of us don’t know we can say no.  Listen to episode 147 of the Love Your Caregiving Podcast and read the transcript at https://www.loveyourcaregivi...

The other day I was venting to my husband about something that was really upsetting to me. I took my time to set up the scene and explain to him what happened. He actively looked like he was listening and then… he made the mistake of trying to fix it.  When my husband tried to fix my problem it made me feel misunderstood. I wondered if he was really hearing what I was trying to tell him or if he w...

I’m sitting here writing this to you on the second week of January and I have a confession to make… my Christmas decorations are still up.  Things are not going to plan. The constant reminder that a chore needs to be completed is both frustrating and upsetting at the same time. Maybe it isn’t your holiday decorations that are the problem but there is more than likely something that needs to be don...

This time last year my husband and I started downsizing our lives so we could move from our suburban home in Minneapolis to a condo in Chicago.  It made us realize that we were really excited about some of the responsibilities we no longer needed to worry about. Responsibilities stressed me out when my husband wasn’t physically able to do them during the years his cancer took a larger role in our...

Let’s talk about why hating yourself isn’t a requirement for change.  Your needs matter. You don’t have to find a reason to hate yourself in order to justify doing them.  Listen to episode 143 to learn, ❤️How to choose the change you want in life without the need to hate yourself in order to do it.  ❤️How to make positive life changes that set you up to succeed.  ❤️Ways to not fall into the trap o...