talkingaboutcancer.com

Hi.  It’s Dianne again.  As a caregiver I find I take great care of Doug but forget about myself.  Often I am just too tired to think of my needs.  I go to the doctors so often with Doug that the thought of having to go to another doctor, even if it is for myself, is almost too overwhelming.  I’m tired from lack of sleep and just don’t have the energy required to worry about me.  I cook the healthiest meals for Doug that I can (lots of antioxidants, no red meat, etc.) but don’t eat it with him.  He loves the meals I cook but I still have bad eating habits and I have decided it is now time to take care of me so I can be better for him (and me).  I have some bad days where it is hard to get going during the day and I have to force myself…my mind is constantly aware of our situation and it scares me to death.  I talk to my friends and release the bad stuff but the knowledge of our situation is always there in the back of my mind.  I try to cope with bad and scary thoughts by imagining a recycling bin and a garbage bin in my mind and I sort my thoughts into each of those two containers…one where I will deal later with the thought when I am strong enough to, the other to just throw out that thought and not look back at it.  Today started as a no-energy-I-feel-lost kinda day and I have turned it around to a “get your butt in gear Dianne and make some needed appointments for yourself” day.  I have done just that and already feel better.  How do others in my situation take care of themselves, or do they also fall down on the job?  I’ll write more later.

Posted by Dianne

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