Regaining Sense of Self

jgreen · July 16

Hi, all

I found the video below just yesterday; and in my case it was quite timely. The video is a little over 10 minutes, but I think it is worthwhile for those of you who feel like you’ve lost who you used to be through all this physical, emotional and mental stress of caregiving. And if you feel like sharing with others what you have been already doing to regain some of your ‘self’ or what you might try doing, please do so. I have learned so much from each of you, and these little tips and experiences will help even more.

God watch over and bless us all.

~ J

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxhB0ZFCszc

dcare45 · July 16

Thanks jgreen

Very good video. I used to watch allot of the careblazres videos and found them helpful. Don't get a chance to much anymore. I try to get outside for a few minutes multiple times a day. Otherwise, I feel like I'm trapped in a cage. I will have to come up with something else before winter gets here.

dcare45 · July 16

I picked up DW from the Enrichment Center and realized something else that brings me back to myself . For some reason I said to her how long we have been together, how much I love her, and gave her a small kiss. That for a moment brought me back to who I/we are. After all these years it is probably impossible to separate me from we. I don’t know if DW understood what I was saying however it made my heart liter for a moment and that’s enough to get me through today. Just a passing thought.

jgreen · July 17

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/277535#Comment_277535

Sounds like you got to be in the ‘loving spouse’ role for that short moment. So glad it brought you that sense of joy that Natalie spoke about in the video. I hope you (and me too) can continue to find and experience those moments during this most difficult journey.

Thank you, @dcare45 for your response. 💝

harshedbuzz · July 17

@jgreen

That's a good one. Thanks for sharing.

I found this piece helpful for me in stage 8 as I struggled to re-set myself to the pre-caregiving version of me without realizing the futility of it.

https://www.npr.org/2025/04/01/nx-s1-5336314/caregiver-caregiving-identity-family-support-burnout

HB

jgreen · July 17

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/277587#Comment_277587

Thank you, @harshedbuzz. I put on my ‘big sister’ hat yesterday and called my brother. We had a wonderful visit and the topic of caregiving never came up. It felt good to be my old self, even for just a few moments.

AlekoW · July 17

I think I'm too early in things (DW is DBAT Stage 1/2) to lose my "self." But what i do notice, primarily confirmed by my close "old man group" buds this morning, I'm kind of dissociated from my emotions. I've been maintainer/manager/Exec Assistant, Advocate, Agent for so long I'm afraid to "feel" lest I break down and become useless, even temporarily (legal matters for 3 years; Dx Younger Onset DX 6 mos and the 6 mos before that when I first noticed changes).

Gonna have a watch of the vid. I subbed to her channel to come back to afterwards. Thank you @jgreen for putting it up here.