Elder Care Guide and Information

Let’s talk about “caregiver guilt”

As a caregiver sooner or later it will hit you. You’ll begin to feel guilty about the actions. Or it might because of your inaction. You’ll feel your care giving decisions are morally incorrect. You’ll feel personally inadequate for the job.

You’ll worry that you might fail.

Welcome to the club. Caregiver guilt comes with the territory.

Guilt is a very personal thing. No one else can make your sense of guilt disappear.  It’s not a broken vase someone can gather up and dispose of.

We all guard the gates to our emotions from inside the gate. And we are the only ones with the key that lets us out.  Guilt is an intense ache that doubles you over mentally from the inside out. It’s like a severe case of emotional indigestion.

I’m not making light of it. I just want you to understand guilt is perfectly normal…and self-inflicted. There is a redemption hidden in your guilt, you know.  The redeeming aspect of any guilt is that you really care.  If you didn’t, it wouldn’t be an issue.

Guilty feelings are a way your heart makes sure you haven’t overlooked something. It also keeps you alert to new, helpful information that may come along.

But don’t let it cripple you.

If you find yourself frozen because of it, get help.

Filed under: Caregiver Stress Management