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Impact

  • Posted on February 20, 2010 at 2:28 pm

You know, the frustration levels are rather high, as each day comes and go. The reality of caring for someone much older, is a constant source of annoyances, of frustrations, and family members who don’t understand, only make it harder. Or is it, that I don’t understand?

I listen to David, and at times want to strangle him, for his insensitive remarks, his selfishness really. Least at the time that is how it feels, and maybe misplaced, but then again, is it? Is it wrong for him to want to look forward, to a time when Mom isn’t around, consuming my time, our minimal resources?

Is that selfishness, or being practicle?

Maybe it is a form of denial on my part, not wanting to contemplate the future, when Mom is gone, or maybe just a sign of total weakness. It is a conflict that rages inside of me, and I am unsure how to deal with it, or cope with it. In my mind, it is like I am giving up on her, if I let myself think about a future with David, without Mom. I am not even sure I will survive that moment in time, and wind up questioning my own confidence, my own abilities.

This is the reality of being the sole caregiver, I think. A sense of utter loneliness, of being isolated from friends and family. My Cousin maybe has the right approach, of being totally unemotional, but I can’t seem to reach that level of isolation. Nor do I think I want to.

To cut yourself off from what you feel, just seems wrong. David, to some degree, does that, and it irritates me no end. Yet too, maybe it is the right way to cope, to handle a very stressful situation. Course it winds up putting me on edge, being guarded in what I say to either of them, for fear of not getting the response I feel, I deserve.  I am afraid of lashing out, at their insensitivety, at their lack of compassion, but maybe I am wrong.

The self doubts seem to expand, never diminish, which only adds to the level of frustrations. I wonder what it would be like, to just run away, to go and hide from not just caring for mom, but from being married, from being even a miniscule part of society. I feel like life is just a cruel joke, at times, that I am unsuited to be in.

Simple chores, become nightmares. Minor disagreements become roaring arguments, and through it all, I have this urge to tell whoever, to just fuck off. I know it is wrong, maybe even selfish on my part, but I am tired of the burden. It seems to invade even my sleep, so that the mornings are just a carry over from the night before. There appears to be no rest, no moments of being off.

Trying to Understand

  • Posted on February 19, 2010 at 11:15 am

This whole caregiving job has no guidelines, no books that explain what you will go through, or how to adapt to the changes, to the frustrations. There is no magic course to take, that will teach you how to be a loving, compassionate, caregiver.

Either it is in you, or it isn’t.

You can talk and discuss all about how to lift a person, how to wash them and even how to speak to them, but there is no way you can teach compassion, caring.  Even as a family member, a son, I find it hard to not get angry, to not feel put upon, at the simplest of requests. And it impacts my own self confidence, self evaluation.

Am I a bad son, for being impatient with the routine?

Like when I take her to go  lay down in the afternoon, and she stands there, with that blank look, it makes me cringe.

Or walking behind her, and the odor from her makes me feel, well, sick to my stomach. I know she can’t help it, but has she lost that much control over her bodily functions, that she can’t even control her flatulence?

Like why does it happen, just as I am bending down to pull up the depends? Is it deliberate, or co-incidence?

It is those thoughts, that make me question myself, that make me wonder, what am I doing wrong? Are those feelings natural, is the impatience of following behind, as she shuffles, unless she’s gotta go the bathroom, when it is almost like running a short distance sprint, normal?

You sit awake at night, wondering if somehow, you are deliberately making yourself angry, so that when the ‘eventuality of death’ does arrive, you will have closed your emotions off? Is it a defence mechanism, to try and mitigate the upcoming emotional upheaval, or is it selfishness?

It is the frustration, daily or hourly at times, when she drinks, and gulps the juice, making herself choke. Thoughts that she does it on purpose, to get attention race through the head, while worry gnaws at me, wondering what to do, if she doesn’t catch her breath.

In short, it is a vicious cycle, that draws energy, strength from a guy, and really, it is no wonder that by the end of the day, I am feeling short tempered, irritable, & just downright snarky. It is a long day, from 6am till midnight, and no wonder the blood pressure is up and down like a yo yo.

It does make me question myself, and when David says things will be different, I am pissed at him, because I know he is meaning ‘when she is dead’ and I don’t want that. Or do I? Is that why I am so stressed, so nervous? Am I that bad, for even thinking it could be that?

Bottom line is this, the job of caring for an older parent is a lonely task, that tests your true mettle. It isn’t filled with accolades, or even compassion from those you expect to provide that for you, it is a job that beats you up, wears you down.

This is my life, it sucks, but it is the only one I got.

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