When your partner gets sick, you take on a new role: the role of caregiver. Sometimes, it happens subtly and over time. They get a diagnosis, and as the weeks and months go by while they fight the disease, you gradually take on more tasks and deal with new thoughts and emotions as a result. Continue reading “6 Steps to Defining the Role of Caregiver When Your Partner Is Sick”
Tag Archives: spousal caregiver
The Power of Honesty When Caregiving for Your Partner
When we make the choice to spend our lives with a partner, it’s rare that we envision someday becoming their caregiver. Yet, the unpredictable nature of life means we might find ourselves in a role we never foresaw, one of being a spousal caregiver. Adapting to this role can be difficult, even for those withContinue reading “The Power of Honesty When Caregiving for Your Partner”
Caregiver Resilience: What It Is, Why You Need It, and How to Build It
When caring for your partner, building resilience–the ability to continue forward in the face of adversity–is essential. Caregiver resilience is not just about surviving; it’s about finding strength in vulnerability, joy in the midst of sorrow, and courage in the face of adversity. When my husband passed away from cancer, I attended a grief recoveryContinue reading “Caregiver Resilience: What It Is, Why You Need It, and How to Build It”
How to Make Tough Decisions as a Spousal Caregiver
Knowing how to make tough decisions quickly and effectively is an essential skill every spousal caregiver needs. When you’re caring for your sick partner, you’re constantly making decisions. You are faced with everything from deciding what to tell friends and family about your spouse’s illness to choosing doctors or treatments to figuring out how toContinue reading “How to Make Tough Decisions as a Spousal Caregiver”
“My Husband Has Cancer. I’m Scared.” How to Deal with Fear as a Spousal Caregiver
Whether you are new to caregiving or have been a spousal caregiver for a while, experiencing fear when your spouse has cancer is a normal part of the journey. Cancer and everything that go along with it can feel very frightening. The good news is that the more you understand your fear, what causes it,Continue reading ““My Husband Has Cancer. I’m Scared.” How to Deal with Fear as a Spousal Caregiver”
Cancer and Anger: How to Deal with Your Spouse’s Anger During Their Cancer Journey
One day in July, my husband scheduled a visit to the doctor to have his shoulder examined after he hurt it in a bad fall. That is when we discovered he had a cancerous tumor in his arm. It came as such a shock to both of us. Overnight, our lives turned upside down, andContinue reading “Cancer and Anger: How to Deal with Your Spouse’s Anger During Their Cancer Journey”
“My Spouse Has Cancer and is Pushing Me Away”
“My spouse has cancer and is pushing me away.” This comes up frequently during coaching. Being pushed away by someone with cancer is a common occurrence, and you might feel like your spouse has become withdrawn when they are coping with a cancer diagnosis. Each person’s experience will be a little different. As my husband’sContinue reading ““My Spouse Has Cancer and is Pushing Me Away””
6 Tips for Finding Balance When Your Partner Has Cancer and Life Feels Out of Control
Your partner has cancer, and now your life feels totally out of control. Gone are all the plans you had for the future. Now, it’s hard to know what to expect from one day to the next. It can feel like riding a roller coaster you never wanted to get on in the first place! Continue reading “6 Tips for Finding Balance When Your Partner Has Cancer and Life Feels Out of Control”
How to Avoid Spousal Caregiver Burnout When Your Partner is Sick
Spousal caregiver burnout. We hear the term all the time, but what does it mean exactly? Burnout is “a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress.” If any part of that definition strikes home, you may be close to or already experiencing caregiver spouse burnout. My husband battled cancerContinue reading “How to Avoid Spousal Caregiver Burnout When Your Partner is Sick”
How to Support Yourself as a Caregiver for a Spouse with Cancer
When you become a caregiver for a spouse with cancer, you automatically take on a new role–probably one you were not prepared for. In this role, you wear many hats, and you may feel like you don’t know what you’re doing much of the time. It’s easy to lose yourself and become completely consumed byContinue reading “How to Support Yourself as a Caregiver for a Spouse with Cancer”