Hope for the Caregiver

Women Feeling Desperate and Abused from an Addict While Caregiving

Callers to the show shared their heartache, fear, and despair in trying to serve as caregivers ...while simultaneously dealing with the trauma and ravages of a family member with addiction.

Sometimes, law enforcement is required for the safety of the caregiver ...and these women are in danger. 

Sarah also called in ...and wait until you hear her story of how she made brutal choices, but kept herself safe. 

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Callers Sharing Struggles With Resentment

Callers shared with the show (HOPE FOR THE CAREGIVER) to share their struggles with resentment. All too often, caregivers find themselves in the downward and destructive spiral of resentment-not always at their loved ones. Sometimes it can be at family and friends who don't help they way the could (or should) Sometimes, it can be at medical personnel. It can be at themselves ...or at God.

Brought to you by Standing With Hope

Hope for the Caregiver 1/12/19 "Resentment"

All too many caregivers struggle with resentment. In this show, we took on the topic of resentment ...and our callers shared their stories and challenges.

Leading off with a vivid picture of my best friend and I cleaning a pig barn at age 14, we discuss how God uses suffering and challenges to clean off the gunk built up on our hearts. Ah yes, growing up in rural South Carolina provide me many opportunities for those type of life lessons! 

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Caller Struggling With Resentment About Caring for Mother.

We caregivers often find ourselves lost in the "Caregiver FOG." (Fear, Obligation, Guilt). 

This caller to the show struggled with the obligation issue. One of the easiest ways to tell that is the language used:  "I have to, I must, I'm supposed to, I'm stuck with it."

He wanted a checklist to help him do the minimal for his mother ...but I instead focused on the heart issues that seemed to lead him down the path of resentment.  

 

Dr. Stephen Loyd discusses caregivers and their loved ones battling addiction

"Addiction is a chronic disease. Where there's a chronic disease, there's a caregiver ...a caregiver in need of their own recovery." - Peter Rosenberger

Dr. Stephen Loyd, the medical director for JOURNEY PURE called the show to discuss caregivers and their loved ones battling addiction. 

From his own journey through addiction to serving as Tennessee's director for Substance Abuse Services, Dr. Stephen Loyd continues to offer a lifeline to those struggling with addiction ...and to their families. 

Through the radio program and podcast (HOPE FOR THE CAREGIVER), we're expanding the term "caregiver" to include those with a family member struggling with addiction, alcoholism, and/or mental illness.  

Listen to Dr. Loyd's discussion about this painful issue facing so many families and the efforts they are making at Journey Pure to help!

The vision of Journey Pure is:

"We aim to help patients and their families get the drug and alcohol addiction treatment they need and deserve. We do so by providing evidence-based treatments along with dual diagnosis to address co-occurring mental health issues and root out the underlying triggers causing the patient to abuse substances. Our care goes beyond addiction cessation to offer practical skills required to re-enter everyday life successfully." 

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Peter Rosenberger is the host of the weekly syndicated radio program for family caregivers. He has served as a caregiver for his wife Gracie, who lives with severe disabilities, for more than 30 years. The author of four books, including “Hope for the Caregiver.” Peter and Gracie live in Nashville, where he also serves as the president and co-founder of Standing With Hope. Follow Peter on Twitter: @Hope4caregiver or visit: www.hopeforcaregiver.com

Caller feels defeated over her daughter with a drug addiction.

Tracie called the show to express her broken heart over her daughter with a drug addiction. 

Addiction is a chronic disease.  Where there is a chronic disease, there's a caregiver.  On this call, I asked Tracie to consider a 12- step recovery program for family members of addicts and alcoholics.  She referenced attending one years ago if saving her father from alcoholism and that it failed ...so she didn't pursue it with her daughter.

Helping redirect Tracie, I shared with her, ""The purpose of this [recovery program for family members] is not to save her daughter from bad choices ...it's to save HER from bad choices." 

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Peter Rosenberger is the host of the weekly syndicated radio program for family caregivers. He has served as a caregiver for his wife Gracie, who lives with severe disabilities, for more than 30 years. The author of four books, including “Hope for the Caregiver.” Peter and Gracie live in Nashville, where he also serves as the president and co-founder of Standing With Hope. Follow Peter on Twitter: @Hope4caregiver or visit: www.hopeforcaregiver.com

 

 

This Caller's Moving Story Brought Me To Tears

A special guest, Charlene, shared her journey with her husband who lived with MS. A few years ago, someone put a copy of my book, HOPE FOR THE CAREGIVER in her hands, and Charlene read a chapter each day.  Finishing the book, she started it over and repeated the process many times.  What happened after that, however, brought me to tears as she shared a powerful moment in their life together ...and beyond.