The Caregiver Cup Podcast

Send Cathy a text:) Imagine a life where chronic stress and burnout constantly chip away at your focus, motivation, and memory. Sounds tough, right? Well, that was my reality. On this personal journey, I open up about my battle with chronic stress, discussing its profound impact on my life, offering real-life examples of how it crept into my daily routine, from forgotten meetings to misplaced item...

Send Cathy a text:) Are you a caregiver navigating the tricky waters of resentment? It's a common yet complex emotion, characterized by bitterness, anger, and even hostility towards loved ones or certain circumstances. This episode promises to provide you with effective strategies to overcome and release resentment, making your caregiving journey more positive and fulfilling. We unravel the k...

Send Cathy a text:) When I first began to prioritize my health and set healthy boundaries, my family was less than thrilled. There were pushbacks, guilt-inducing comments, and even some behind-the-scenes gossip. But I learned to navigate through these obstacles, and I'm sharing my experiences with you in this heartfelt episode. We'll explore the emotions your loved ones may feel when you...

Send Cathy a text:) Feeling overwhelmed and stressed as a caregiver? You're not alone. Join me on this emotional roller coaster ride, where I share my personal experiences and discuss the common challenges caregivers face. I know firsthand the struggle of waking up each day feeling hopeless and the reliance on quick fixes like power naps, late-night work, and denial. But what if we could move...

Send Cathy a text:) Ever wondered how to transform your caregiving experience into a journey of peace, joy and empowerment? The answer lies in auditing - a process I recently undertook for my podcast, the Caregiver Cup, with the help of my coach, Krystal Proffitt.  Krystal's invaluable insights gave me a clear picture of my podcast's strengths and weaknesses. Our discussion spanned new t...

Send Cathy a text:) Feeling anger, resentment, torn or unhappy?  Caregiving is a life transition for you and it competes with your values.  This transition is hard.  When you don’t address your competing values, you may feel like you are suffocating. Learn invaluable tips to stay connected to our personal goals and your new caregiver values.   I delve into how to identify your values during and af...

Send Cathy a text:) Do you ever feel like your mind is overflowing with negative thoughts as a caregiver? Well, mine certainly was this past week. I was buried under the weight of concerns about my appearance, and with Denis’ oncology visit, my anxiety was through the roof. I was stuck in a cycle of negative thoughts, so I began to question their utility. Are they really helping us or just adding...

Send Cathy a text:) Ever wondered how your body is signaling stress levels and what the clues might mean? Join me as I take you on a journey of self-discovery, mapping stress zones and crafting strategies to manage caregiver stress. Drawing parallels from the ER triage system and my personal experience with my husband's injury, we'll explore how assessing your stress can be the first ste...

Send Cathy a text:) Are you wearing too many hats as a caregiver and unsure how to juggle them all successfully? Let me tell you, it's a common feeling, but you're not alone. I've been there, and today, I'm sharing the inside scoop on navigating the multifaceted world of caregiving. From being the nurse, the cook, the driver, to the bill payer and the web designer, we celebrate...

Send Cathy a text:) Feeling weighed down by the stress of caregiving? Join me as I share a hilarious family story that teaches valuable lessons about handling stress and the importance of not overloading ourselves. Just like a canoe that can't handle too much weight, our minds and bodies can't handle excessive stress without tipping over. In this episode, I discuss the concept of a careg...

Send Cathy a text:) I'm diving into one of the most impactful mindset strategies I've discovered which has led to breakthroughs and transformations in my own caregiving journey. Imagine shifting your focus from feeling overwhelmed to celebrating your wins - even during the toughest times. In today's episode, I recount my personal experiences, from making detailed plans to adapting t...

Send Cathy a text:) Are you juggling the challenges of caring for aging parents? Let us help you navigate this journey with valuable insights from Shay Domangue, an Internal Medicine Physician's Assistant and founder of the Elder Care Hub. As we explore streamlining medication lists, addressing caregiver burnout, and maximizing healthcare resources, you'll gain practical tools to better...

Send Cathy a text:) Interviewing other caregivers are one of the best parts of being a podcaster.  But this episode is EVEN BETTER.  When you hear how a caregivers takes her skills and talents and uses them to her advantage in caregiving, you see the positive impacts to her advantage.   Rosa Everson is a caregiver, retired teacher, professional organizer and a declutter coach.  She shares her  inc...

Send Cathy a text:) Are you drowning in the demands of caregiving? What if there was a way to make your caregiving journey a little bit more manageable? Join me as I share valuable strategies for simplifying caregiving, by asking an essential question: "How can I make this easier?" In this enlightening episode, I touch on the power of perspective, the importance of trusting our caregivin...

Send Cathy a text:) It's crazy how your brain is wired and what if feeds on.  Are you allowing your negative thoughts in?  What do you now believe about those negative thoughts?   How is it impacting you?  In this episode, we're breaking down  what you are telling yourself (the positives and negatives) how it's impacting you as a caregivers  why it's easy for negativity to cons...

Send Cathy a text:) This was the first Mother's Day without my Mom.   Mother’s Day  was a hard day for me.  Honestly, I felt like I was kicked in the gut.  And then when I tried to stand up, it kicked me back down again.  My heart and mind was so heavy.  I missed my Mom so much and felt that void even bigger yesterday.   I caught myself (at first) getting angry at myself for not being strong...

Send Cathy a text:) Who's on your caregiving team?  When caregivers take a step back and look at their team and see the importance of the services, support and help, they'll be able to embrace the moments and joy in their journey.   In this episode, we're unpacking: who's on your team benefits of your team thinking like a leader to that team tips and information on how to form...

Send Cathy a text:) Worry is a normal human emotion and everyone experiences it to some degree. It's a natural response to uncertainty and can be a helpful signal that something requires attention or action.  Caregiver worry can be debilitating.   In this episode, we're unpacking ways we worry types of worry why we worry strategies to overcome and reduce worry Caregiving can be a challen...

Send Cathy a text:) Manifesting is important in caregiving because it is a way to intentionally focus our thoughts and energy on what we want to achieve or experience in our challenging life right now.  Manifesting can have a powerful positive impact on our mental, emotional and physical health and can enhance our overall caregiving experience.   In this episode, we're unpacking:  abundance m...

Send Cathy a text:) As a caregiver, our days can be unending with caregiving tasks, home chores, our job and much more.  Stress and burn out can set in pretty fast.   You can’t always control everything in your life right now.  But one thing you can control is the care and time you give yourself.  In this episode, I'm unpacking: the benefits of exercise why it's hard to fit in exercise a...

Send Cathy a text:) In this episode, I’m talking all about those feelings of grief and loss when your loved one is still here.  I’ve experienced this several times and was filled with guilt and shame for feeling this way.   I'm unpacking:   What is loss What is grief 2 types of loss/grief caregiver experience while their loved one is alive Signs and symptoms of loss/grief 5 stages of grief So...

Send Cathy a text:) She asked me the question that made me perk up in my chair and grateful that someone is finally asking me this question.  It is something that triggers me, gets me emotional and it’s not my best moment. Last week, I was interviewed for an upcoming event called MidLife Women Series regarding caregiving, stress, burnout and ways to work through it.   The format was facilitated by...

Send Cathy a text:) In today’s episode, I’m talking about those normal caregiving days,  Those days where you feel like you are in autopilot    When things feel the same,  isolating, and you don’t see an end or have anything to look forward to.   I'm unpacking loneliness and happiness.    When we understand those normal days, the science behind it  and how they impact us, we can then take act...

Send Cathy a text:) Why do you feel like a dirty dish rag (or wet noodle) when you are with your loved one sitting all day in the clinic?  It's stressful, exhausting, frustrating and boring.  Right? In this episode,  we're talking about surviving those long days, what to bring to help you combat the boredom and ways to combat the energy that gets sucked out of you.   Support the show

Send Cathy a text:) The Stem Cell Transplant Is Scheduled, Now What?  Or better yet, what all needs to be done?  Before, Denis and I got home from the transplant doctor, the dates were booked but there were still so many unanswered questions.   Where will we going to stay? Would the insurance cover everything? Who would take care of our home, dogs and my mom?   In this episode, I want to share the...