OUR GUEST: JOE TOWER
Joe is a writer and content creator from the Midwest living mountain high in Colorado. He’s an outdoor enthusiast, a veteran bartender, and a caregiver advocate. Along with his cancer warrior wife, Anna, he’s on a mission to normalize the cancer conversation.

HOW TO CONNECT WITH JOE:

LinkedIn

instagram

IF YOU WANT TO DONATE TO THEIR GO FUND ME:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-anna-tower-on-her-cancer-journey

RESOURCES:

Joe’s interview on Patient Story

US Department of Health and Services / Resources for Caregivers

WHAT JUNE & JOE TALKED ABOUT:

• How Joe got into the caregiving role
• Joe’s initial reaction to his wife’s cancer diagnosis
• Mantra: There’s no way out but through 
• Caregiver role, especially where you didn’t have a choice to be one
• Losing yourself as a caregiver  
• A day in the life of a caregiver 
• How caregiving impacts your work and normalcy
• The impact of an “invisible role” and the value of being a caregiver
• Shame & guilt for self care and recognition of the role
• Caregiver mental health resources 
• The vital importance of taking care of yourself as a caregiver 
• Delayed trauma and resentment as caregivers
• When your own support system runs out and what to do
• The breaking point: Misdiagnosis & when your person begins to recover
• Red flags for burnout and caregiver rock bottoms
• Options for caregiving recovery 
• More caregivers experience mental health issues when the person they are taking care of begins to recover 
• Failure and insignificance as a caregiver 
• The gifts of being a caregiver

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CONNECT WITH JOY GUIDE JUNE!

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