Caregiver guilt
Ah, the never-ending guilt! It’s one of the most common emotions that caregivers experience. You feel bad about leaving the house, even for a few hours. You feel guilty for not spending enough time with your loved one. You feel guilty for neglecting your friends and professional commitments. The guilt can be endless!
Why does this emotion take up so much space? First, it’s perfectly normal to feel guilty at times. When you love and care for someone close to you, you want the best for them. You put yourself in their shoes—that’s what empathy is all about. For the loved one, it’s you they want, not a personal support worker or sitter. Guilt eats away at you, keeping you awake at night. Sometimes it can feel like you’re dealing with a child who doesn’t want to be left at daycare.
The importance of setting boundaries
It’s unrealistic to think you have to be available all the time or that you can always do more. No one can do everything on their own, which is why it’s so important to ask for help. Helping too much can wear you out. So it’s essential to manage your energy by setting boundaries.
But before you can even set boundaries, you need to reflect on your own needs. You have to take care of yourself if you want to take care of others, even when it may feel like taking time for yourself means taking something away from the person you’re caring for. It’s essential for your well-being!