Caregiving

Hi, my name is bubblegum_drum91. I'm here because

#MightyTogether #Migraine #PTSD #ADHD #DissociativeIdentityDisorder #dissociativeamnesia #Caregiving #ChronicIllness #ComplexPosttraumaticStressDisorder #Anxiety

Is anyone else trying to mange their own mental illness while caring for elderly parents? Both my parents need help, but my dad has Parkinson’s and as it worsens, his needs increase. I’m the only one in the household physically capable of caring for him but he needs help getting out of chairs, going to the bathroom, dressing, and preparing food. I can’t even get a full night’s sleep anymore because he needs me so often in the middle of the night to help him go to the bathroom. We’re not poor enough to qualify for financial help with caregiving nor are we rich enough to afford assisted living. I’m the plan, the only plan. If I get sick, too bad. If I need a mental health day, too bad. We are researching options. We have caregivers come in a few hours each week. But I need more. My family doesn’t understand why this causes me to be emotional so often even though they know I’ve been hospitalized so many times for psychiatric problems and I’m on disability for it. I don’t see why they can’t understand. #Caregiving #Bipolar1 #ParkinsonsDisease