The Cancer Caregiver

In today's episode, we continue our conversation with Carol Bush, a passionate advocate for palliative care. Host Charlotte Bayala dives deeper into the topic, addressing the common issue of many people being unaware of palliative care and how to advocate for it for their loved ones. They discuss the importance of asking for palliative care at any stage of a medical journey, whether it's before a procedure or while facing unknown symptoms. Together, they highlight how palliative care focuses on improving quality of life for both the patient and their caregivers.

Tune in to this enlightening episode as we explore the significance of palliative care and the impact it can have on the caregiving journey. Find the links mentioned on the transcript page at https://www.loveyourcaregivinglife.com

Get to know Charlotte and her experiences as a Caregiver for her husband, who has thyroid cancer. In this episode, you will get a little background information and what you can expect from the podcast.

Congratulations, you made it through the holiday season. Now you're left with cleaning up and settling into the new year. This week may be even more difficult than the last month because now everything has quieted down and you're left with a holiday hangover. Just trying to figure out how to actually settle into your caregiving life again. Let's talk about your caregiving life after the holidays, join Charlotte Bayala and Roberta Schneider. As they talk together about how caregivers can adjust to life after the holidays are over.

Find the transcript at https://www.loveyourcaregivinglife.com

Welcome to Love Your Caregiving Life, the podcast that understands the challenges and triumphs of being a caregiver. In this episode, host Charlotte Bayala takes us on a raw and emotional journey through her experience as a caregiver for her husband who is battling cancer.

She reflects on the intense emotional rollercoaster of waiting in the oncologist's office, and how that moment led her to evaluate her own caregiving and self-care. Charlotte shares her realization that caregivers often neglect their own needs while focusing solely on their loved ones, and she challenges herself and her listeners to prioritize self-care in the midst of caregiving.

With empathy and understanding, Charlotte offers a roadmap for caregivers to prioritize their well-being throughout the year, and she extends a supportive invitation for listeners to join her in this transformative journey. Tune in and embrace the opportunity to love your caregiving life.

Find ways to take 5 minute breaks from caregiving here

https://unique-architect-9113.ck.page/dd2f5bfb92

Deep down there is a little part of you that knows you need therapy.

If you are a caregiver you can find a million reasons why you don't have the time/can't go.

This episode is for everyone who wants to know...

What happens in that first therapy session

How therapy is different than a FB Group or an App.

How to navigate the fear of being judged by friends and family.

The benefits of therapy for caregivers.

How therapy can help you become a more effective caregiver.

Learning how to set boundaries.

Listen to my conversation with Kayla Estenson Williams (@kaylaestensonwellness), Minnesota based Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist here, and find the links Kayla mentions in the show notes below!

Show Notes

2:30 How to know if therapy is right for you.

3:11 Benefits of Therapy.

4:00 Reasons therapy is beneficial for caregivers

4:25 Expectations for your first therapy session.

7:30 Vulnerability and feeling uncomfortable is ok.

8:41 Worries about being judged by family and friends

10:00 The Therapist has a plan. No need to worry about having things to talk about.

11:30 Finding a therapist you’re comfortable with.

14:40 Making the decision to finally go to therapy.

15:15 The difference between therapy and Facebook groups and phone apps.

23:00 Your own personal cheerleader.

24:00 Knowing you need therapy but living around people who stigmatize therapy.

25:00 Honoring your needs and processing boundaries with your therapist.

28:00 Therapy is more that talk. The tools and skills you can learn with your therapist.

30:00 How therapy can help you become a more effective caregiver.

33:00 Problem solving and processing emotions.

36:00 Therapy is what you need for it to be.

38:03 You don’t need to know what you need help with when you go to therapy. Your therapist will help you figure that out.

39:36 Crying

40:00 Therapy is there for YOU.

42:19 Things to think of if you are still hesitating.

44:00How to find a therapist. Links mentioned.

Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us

Therapy Den: https://www.therapyden.com/

Open Path Collective: https://openpathcollective.org/

46:00 Charlotte relates her experiences with therapy.

48:00 Realizing, once you go to therapy, that you should have started a long time ago.

Find Kayla :

www.kaylaestenson.com

www.facebook.com/kaylaestensonwellness/

www.instagram.com/kaylaestensonwellness/

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kayla-estenson-wellness-podcast/id1488846404