Unearned Guilt Intrinsic to Most Caregiving

Photo credit Sharon McCutcheon If ever there was a group of people who suffer deeply from unearned guilt, it’s caregivers. Whether you’re the parent of a vulnerable adult, an adult child of aging parents or the spouse of a vulnerable adult, you are bound to have your “if only” times where you are sucked into the quicksand of guilt. The reality is that most things you could have done differently wouldn’t have made a huge difference overall. Even if another approach would have made a difference, you can’t go back. Staying mired in guilt is counterproductive for you as well as your care receiver. While some reasons caregivers feel guilty are unique to their situation, many are commonly shared in caregiving. Below, I’ve listed four causes of unearned guilt that most caregivers share, along with some ideas that I hope will help you look at your situation more realistically: You feel trapped and resentful: When people feel...Continue reading on HealthCentral for more about what is likely a familiar feeling - unearned caregiver guilt:   Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories. "For anyone having to walk the last segments of life with a loved one, read this. There are so many different people discussed that you will find hope in reading about each one and probably find pieces of your own story and struggle in many.  This book is for all of us; let it help you cope! Thank you to the author and everyone she spoke with!" ...Dolore...
Source: Minding Our Elders - Category: Geriatrics Authors: Source Type: blogs