Caring for a loved one can be stressful, overwhelming and difficult at times.  Many studies show that caregivers adopt “bad” coping habits during one time in their caregiving days to combat the stress that is brought about by caring for someone.

One of the "bad" coping habits is emotional eating;  which may lead to unintentional weight gain, insomnia, depression to mention but a few. 

In today’s episode, Master Life & Weight loss coach Jillian Lama explains to us the different ways to identify and deal with the different layers that make up emotional eating. 

 Resources mentioned on the show:

Jillian Lama's website & Instagram

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Dr. Robert Yoho offers first-hand insight into the inner workings and relationships between the big pharmaceutical companies, specialist doctors and how intricate the FDA is.

This book will help patients and caregivers become proactive in order to make better decisions, gain better knowledge on how the American health care system works and learn to ask the right questions while at the doctor. 

It is backed by extensive research in medicine and gives you a glimpse into how medical research is done and considered.  

Buy Dr. Yoho's book Butchered by Health care

You can also buy a copy of Butchered by Healthcare here. ( affiliate link)

Dr. Yoho's Website

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Most of us just don’t want to deal with estate planning, we know  it is wise to do it, but we avoid dealing with it.

Estate planning is what adults do, it is equivalent to doing our taxes. It is boring, but we are required to do it. Yes, even 18-year-olds can do their estate planning.  Contrary to popular belief, estate planning isn't only for the wealthy. 

In this week’s episode, Estate Planning Attorney Jennifer Gumbel walks us through what estate planning, how is it done and why everyone that is legally down should have their affairs in order.

Resources mentioned on the show.

Jennifer Gumbel's Website  & Instagram.

 

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In this week's episode,  Wendy Crabbe an Oncology Nurse Practitioner, Life & Weight Loss Coach walks us through ways you can support your spouse during and after chemotherapy treatments.

Wendy also shares insights on how you can become the best caregiver you wish to be, from a  place of compassion.  She goes ahead and shares tips on how to avoid overwhelm and burnout. 

 

Wendy Crabbe's  Website | Instagram

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In today's episode, Cathy VandenHeuvel shares with us her experience, caring for her husband while he was getting cancer treatments.

She also shares tips & tools she used to manage her physical and mental health during the heavy days of being a spousal caregiver. The tools she  used to manage  household, financial and emotional responsibilities.

Cathy VandenHeuvel's website | Podcast
 

Resources mentioned on the show:

Cleaning for a Reason - Cleaning homes for cancer patients (USA) -

Free, specialized, in-home child care resources for mothers with cancer - (USA)

 We are not affiliated with  the above organizations. 

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We had the opportunity to talk to Jenni Daniel the advocate for Breast cancer patients and caregivers.

Jenni talks about how to advocate for your spouse/partner.  How to navigate the insurance companies?

How do you balance the caring tasks and your daily lives?

How  can you the caregiver get the help you need; what kind of help do you actually need?

Resources mentioned on the show:

Jenni's website | Instagram | Facebook

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On this week's episode, Kaela McKaig shares her story & experience of how she and her mom cared for her dad, who had 6 different types of cancers.

The challenges they faced while navigating the health care system, being in and out of hospitals and emergency rooms.

She also shares the things she learned, and how she would do things differently today.

Resources:

Kaela McKaig Website | Instagram

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Share your fears with others, they may be a listening ear, or offer a shoulder to cry on when you need to release overwhelming tension. When you keep worries inside, they build up.

You will realize that other people in the same situation have the same fears you have. Not only will you bond over that, but you will be able to help and support each other. 

You are going to be a primary caregiver of your spouse, it is a huge task,  you are going to have self-doubt, fear & anxiety.

It is okay to be scared; caring for someone, isn’t easy. You have probably never cared for someone before, even if you have, no caregiving situation is the same.

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 In the perfect world, children and their parents get along. Children put aside their differences when their parents are going through cancer treatments or any other life-threatening illness. Families put up a united front for each other when a tragedy of this magnitude strikes. 

But the truth is, we don’t live in a perfect world,  many families out there don't get along, even in the face of disaster; And that is the reality, that is what is for those families. 

As human beings, we want everybody to get along in the family, even when they clearly don’t want to.  We feel good when everyone is getting along and behaving "nicely" etc.

Telling other people how to behave ALMOST never works. If it does, it works temporarily, because  grown people, behave in any way they wish to.

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 Your efforts to keep providing care, your spouse’s overall health isn’t improving. It is declining, he is requiring frequent care. 

During this time, you are especially vulnerable to feeling guilty. You have strong sense of commitment to provide exceptional care for your spouse, you may feel incompetent to do the necessary job and feel guilty. 

Guilt is an emotion that is brought on by thoughts you have about a certain situation. Guilt keeps you focused on the things you haven’t done right, taking you away from the good job that you are doing. 

You put your body, heart & soul into caring for your loved one, and they are still not improving. Nothing you do makes a difference. 

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