I am a caregiver I am not the "survivor" or "victim" but that's nonsense. I truly understand that his life as he knew it changed and he has lost a lot, but so have I. So have our two young boys. Everyone asks how is he doing but they forget that this did not just happen to him, it happened to all of us. We lost income, a large part of our livelihood, our home, or freedom and all the things that we expected to do in the coming years. I'm angry about this and that is not going away any time soon.
I miss my partner. I miss having someone to talk to, someone to hold my hand. I miss having someone who at least pretended to care about how my day went. Now with the strokes he is more self involved and when I actually talk he interrupts and starts talking about himself. I can't have a conversation with him. I miss that. I miss the love we had for each other. I love him dearly but I am not "in love" with him at this time. He's not the man I married, he's not the man I was supposed to spend the rest of my life with. He is the man that I love and cherish and will fight for.
Our future is unknown but this is the same for everyone. With having plasma in his cerebral membrane a stroke can occur at any time. It scares me. I'm praying he will remain in a facility longer. I know that I am unable to handle all the stress a caregiver brings. I know I am too weak to keep it all up like I did for six months. I'm already broken, I have no relief. Everyone says go have some "me" time. How is that possible? I mean really, I have two little boys one of which is in school and is an Aspie which means I live in constant fear of him harming his younger brother. I can not leave them alone for one second. With bringing Kevin home that means there is another person who truly needs 80% of my time and I just do not have it. There's not enough time in one day for me to do everything let alone the patience and endurance. I'm unable to quit work and we do not qualify for any assistance other than social security.
It's so hard to be lonely and feel like I do not matter, I do not count. No one will help me, they never offer. Some days I feel like such a bad mom and wife that I just want to walk away and not come back. Am I doing more harm than good? Am I going to be able to tolerate someone berating me and being downright mean to me? Am I going to have health issues trying to keep up with the needs and demands on me.
I am just scared of going back to feeling like a complete failure 24/7. I'm scared of all the pressure and frustration that being a caregiver will once again bring.
I just don't know...
- Read more...
- 12 comments
- 1,577 views