Tilted. A reaction to expanded family caregiving.

In this episode I discuss how I experience this "tilt" reaction to having been overwhelmed with a sudden and traumatic need to care for aging family members, on top of my responsibility as a caregiver Mom to my medically complex and disabled adult son.   The words "I'm tilted" kept popping into my mind, so I let it be there.

As a 50 something year old, it goes without saying that our elders are aging, and may need our help.  In "non" caregiving mode, this is likely to be a bit easier to handle.  I guess.  But when I am already just too emotionally overwhelmed, and trauma hits, I can get to a point where I just need to shut off for awhile.  

So I wanted to share a little bit of my recent experience as becoming a caregiver for more than just my son.  While at the onset, it feels like it is just simply too much for me to manage, I am surprised at how much I am learning, and how focusing on letting go of fear has helped.  

I don't function at my highest levels when other people vent their stress on me by harsh criticism, venting anger, and pushing me away.  So I am always working on boundaries to not let it get to me.   Remaining calm.  Working on my highest self and what kind of positivity I am bringing into each moment. 

We go through different phases and stages in journey as caregivers, and just as we think we are pretty good at everything having to do with our person, we can find ourselves needing to help people outside of that bubble too.   There is an "AHHH I CAN'T DO THIS" period where fear sets in and we are too exhausted.  So for me, I tend to need to shut down and accept that I can't push myself. 

Having had my own long long term trauma from childhood, I've had to really come to terms with the coping strategies that work for me. 

I end this talk with a brief little poem from Alex Elle that I saw on the internet.  
I'm currently visiting my daughter in California, as I reference in the podcast. 

I am blessed and grateful for all that I am, and all that I have coming.  Thank you for sharing this journey.  This podcast, my YouTube channel and our Etsy art shop (Daniel's Special Art) are my love projects. 

Enjoy the episode friends.  
Julie