How are you feeling this holiday season, caregiver?

The holidays, a time traditionally filled with joy and celebration, can be especially challenging when you’re balancing caregiving duties with festive expectations. Whether your loved one is aging, facing illness, or unable to participate in the same way they once did, the holidays may feel overwhelming, lonely, or even guilt-inducing. As a caregiver myself, experiencing eight holiday seasons under these circumstances, I understand firsthand the unique emotional landscape that comes with this time of year.

In this blog post, we’ll explore the Top 5 Emotions Caregivers Experience During the Holidays and provide actionable steps through Awareness, Acceptance, and Action to help you create small moments of joy and prioritize self-care. Let’s embark on this journey together, transforming the holiday experience into a time of healing, connection, and meaningful memories.

1. Overwhelm

Why We Feel Overwhelmed...

In today’s caregiver life, fear and uncertainty looks so different to you and I.  

What is caregiver fear and uncertainty?

Uncertainty is the inability to know what will happen in the future. Your loved one’s disease and treatment can be scary and unpredictable. Feelings of fear and uncertainty among caregivers are normal. But, they can become a problem if you feel you have no control over life, which can cause anxiety, stress, depression or anger as a result.  

What can you do about your fear and uncertainty?

Here are some tips:

• Don’t try to deny your fear. Talk about it.
• Try to avoid thinking about "what if's." Focus on the aspects of your life that you have control over.   Go back to Episode 66 - Do You have the "if only" or "what if" syndrome? 
• Try not to let your emotions and fears sway your decisions and thoughts
• Seek a professional if you can overcome your fears or it's causing stress and burnout.  
• Give your...