E36: Caring for a spouse with ulcerative colitis while pursing her passions with Diana Winkler

 

Diana Winkler is a singer songwriter and I'm an abuse advocate.  She uses music as one of my healing tools and facilitates Meaning The Soul healing groups.  She is also a podcaster of the Wound of the Faithful Podcast.

She is married to her husband, Brain for 11 years who struggles with severe ulcerative colitis.  Diana is very transparent about her own health struggles with memory loss too.  

In my interview, I ask Diana to share her everyday schedule.  She is figuring it out by juggling her schedule, pursuing her passions and finding time for herself.  

I ask Diana to unpack her caregiving journey.  She shares her spouse’s 10 year journey with ulcerative colitis, from the initial diagnosis,  remission and through the pandemic.  She talks about the stressors of his disease and how it impacts her as a caregiver.  

She shares her gratitude of both being able to work from home but also the stress there too.  ...

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What to do when you're waiting on testing, treatment options and the prognosis?

 

I never thought I would experience it again.  

These past couple weeks I have been riding the emotional roller coaster of caregiving - again.   

The words that come to mind are sudden, unexpected and why.

Cancer sucks.  It is a nasty disease.   

Aging sucks.  I hate the circle of life right now.  

But this podcast isn’t a pity party or a Debbie downer.  It’s funny how fast you forget about those firsts.  

  • The first inkling that something isn’t right with your loved one.
  • The initial shock and numbness when you hear the bad news.
  • Then comes all those emotions.  
    • Hours of sadness, crying, grief before you really need to
    • Anger, frustration 
    • Worry, confusion 
    • Feeling those nerves inside shaking
    • You can’t focus

First, let me tell you about my Mom.  I’m blessed to have a great mother-daughter relationship.  

She is an energizer bunny.  The...

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Riding the Waves of Caregiving: Conquering Chaos and Guilt

 

Navigating the complex world of caregiving often presents an overwhelming sense of guilt and pressure, especially when trying to balance personal life, work, and the needs of loved ones. In a poignant episode of the Caregiver Cup podcast, the personal journey of navigating a tumultuous week during Thanksgiving in 2017 is shared, along with insights on how accepting the present moment can alleviate these feelings.

One of the major challenges caregivers face is when they or their loved ones receive a cancer diagnosis. This life-changing event often throws caregivers into a maelstrom of emotions, making self-care fall by the wayside. The podcast emphasizes the importance of taking it all in, allowing it to settle, and logically prioritizing what's important. Granting oneself grace during these challenging times and leaning into therapy and community for strength is highlighted as a vital part of coping with a cancer diagnosis.

Moreover, the societal pressures caregivers...

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What to do when you're waiting on testing, treatment options and the prognosis?

 

Welcome!   Thank you for joining me for another episode of The Caregiver Cup podcast.  It’s Episode 27.   Let me start by saying...

I never thought I would experience it again.  

These past couple weeks I have been riding the emotional roller coaster of caregiving - again.   

The words that come to mind are sudden, unexpected and why.

Cancer sucks.  It is a nasty disease.   

Aging sucks.  I hate the circle of life right now.  

But this podcast isn’t a pity party or a Debbie downer.  It’s funny how fast you forget about those firsts.  

  • The first inkling that something isn’t right with your loved one.
  • The initial shock and numbness when you hear the bad news.
  • Then comes all those emotions.  
    • Hours of sadness, crying, grief before you really need to
    • Anger, frustration 
    • Worry, confusion 
    • Feeling those nerves inside shaking
    • You can’t focus

First,...

Continue Reading