Practical steps to survival - How?!

It was only after several years, when my daughter began to fight her illness and humour eventually came back into life, that I realised how long it had been since I’d laughed.  In those long dark days it was hard to imagine what it was like to laugh, to relax - even to dream of such a possibility again in future.

Have you forgotten what it’s like laugh?  Or to sit and concentrate on an activity you don’t have time for now?  To chat with friends over a meal, read without interruption a good book for an hour or two - or even an interesting article in a paper or magazine?  Have a holiday, play sport, sing or make music, go ballroom dancing, swim, learn something new, attend an interesting class….?   Go out anywhere without meticulous planning for your absence?  A whole night’s sleep, a weekend away?  A holiday?!

Now that my daughter is well and I can look back at those dark days, I can recognise how very important it is to find ways of surviving so that I could continue offering support to my beloved Jay.  

Finding ways of recharging personal batteries is essential (not a luxury!)  To help you work out ways to ensure your own survival, look for 'Recharging Personal Batteries' in Carer Survival.