In Sickness

By Allison Breininger and Justin BajemaMedicine Health & Fitness Mental Health

In Sickness episodes

September 29 136: The Aftereffects of Caregiving: An Interview with Former Caregivers Rodolfo Nieto and Aaron Shipp
Rodolfo Nieto and Aaron Shipp were both spousal caregivers whose roles ended in different ways over the last two years. In this episode, we talk with them about the aftereffects of caregiving on their physical health, emotional wellbeing, nervous system, and sense of identity.

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Join us for an online support group related to this episode on Tuesday, October 6, from 6:00-7:15pm CT. Register Here!
59 min
September 15 135: Seeing Our Loved One Through The Eyes of the World
Being in public spaces, with inquisitive young children, or even out and about in our neighborhood with our loved one can cause us to see them through different eyes. In this episode, Jenna and Allison talk about times this has happened in their caregiving lives and the good and the hard that has come from it.

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Join us for an online support group related to this episode on Monday, September 21, from 6:00-7:15pm CT. Register Here!
46 min
September 01 134: To Share or Not to Share - The Pros and Cons of Publicly Revealing Details of Your Loved One's Diagnosis
The decision of how much to share about a loved one's illness publicly or even with family is a personal one that can have both positive and negative outcomes. The situation can be even more complex when the caregiver and the person being cared for have differing opinions on the matter. In this episode, Allison and Jenna dig into these nuances and share how they have handled this in their own caregiving lives.

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Join us for an online support group related to this episode on Wednesday, September 9, from 6:00-7:15pm CT. Register Here!
54 min
August 11 133: The Hamster Wheel of Caregiving
Caregiving tasks, while important, can begin to feel repetitive and mundane, making each day feel like the one before. In this episode, Jenna and Allison discuss the hamster wheel of caregiving, how it can lead to feelings of frustration or numbness, and how to find moments of joy amidst the routine.

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Join us for an online support group related to this episode on Monday, August 17, from 6:00-7:15pm CT. Register Here!

47 min
July 28 132: Finding Respite: Easier Said Than Done
In this episode, the hosts discuss the formal and informal ways respite care can look for caregivers, the challenges caregivers may face in accessing those services, and the impact on caregiver health and wellbeing if they don't take breaks.

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Join us for an online support group related to this episode on Sunday, August 2, from 6:00-7:15pm CT. Register Here!
54 min
May 05 131: Remote Caregiving: A Conversation with Natasha Ray-Heideker and Klaus Unger
In this episode, Justin and Allison speak with remote caregivers Natasha Ray-Heideker and Klaus Unger, who share their individual stories of providing care for family members living across the ocean. Natasha lives in Germany while caregiving for her father in Colorado and Klaus lives in Minnesota and cares for his mother who lives in Germany. They describe what this version of caregiving looks and feels like and the benefits and challenges of caregiving in this way.

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Join us for an online support group related to this episode on Monday, May 11, from 6:00-7:15pm CT. Register Here!
59 min
April 14 130: The Relationship Between Caregiver and Patient Well-Being
Research shows that there is a direct correlation between caregiver distress, depression, and physical strain and patient rates of hospitalization and even mortality. In this episode, Allison and Justin talk about the vicious cycle of the caregiving role causing these symptoms but then how the symptoms themselves can make caregiving more challenging. They also dig into what, if anything, can be done to prevent caregiver burnout.

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Join us for an online support group related to this episode on Sunday, April 19, from 6:00-7:15pm CT. Register Here!
51 min
March 31 129: Building and Leaving a Legacy: A conversation with Jill Thompson of Inheritance of Hope
In this beautiful conversation with Jill Thompson of Inheritance of Hope, Justin and Allison learn about what it means to build and leave behind a legacy. Jill shares both the concept and power behind legacy and concrete strategies for how to leave things for our loved ones once we're gone, such as legacy videos or songs. This meaningful discussion is one for all of us to take in and consider, regardless of our stage in life.

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Inheritance of Hope

National Legacy Month

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Join us for an online support group related to this episode on Monday, April 6, from 6:00-7:15pm CT. Register Here!
50 min
March 17 128: Finding Humor While Caregiving
In this episode, Allison and Justin share ways that they have used humor as a tool for themselves and with their loved ones during hard times. They also share stories and ideas that were submitted by listeners.

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Family Feud - "Turkey"

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Join us for an online support group related to this episode on Monday, March 23 , from 6:00-7:15pm CT. Register Here!
44 min
March 03 127: When Emotions are Contagious
When we're caring for someone, our moods and feelings can become intertwined. In this episode Justin and Allison discuss what it's like when witnessing the suffering of their partners impacts their mood, when their own moods rub off on their loved ones, and how emotions can feel contagious.

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Join us for an online support group related to this episode on Sunday, March 8, from 6:00-7:15pm CT. Register Here!
47 min

About In Sickness

From the publisher's feed

Listen in as Allison Breininger and Justin Bajema, millennial caregivers for their chronically ill spouses, speak honestly about what life is like when there are more days spent in sickness than in…