What is a “Caregriever”?
A “Caregriever” is a term that combines ‘caregiver’ and ‘griever’. It refers to someone who is simultaneously providing care for themselves, and maybe a loved one, while also experiencing grief.
A caregiver is someone who provides support and assistance to another person who is unable to fully care for themselves due to illness, disability, age, or other challenges. Caregivers must prioritize their own well-being to avoid burnout and maintain the ability to provide effective care.
A griever is a person who is experiencing grief, the deep sorrow and emotional, physical, and cognitive paint that often follows a significant loss. Grievers may mourn the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, the loss of a job, a major life change, or any situation where something meaningful is lost.
Caregiving for oneself is essential to caregiving for others.
It is oftentimes overlooked or labeled as ‘selfish’ or ‘unimportant’. This cannot be further from the truth.
We have been conditioned to believe as a society that taking care of ourselves is something we must earn after hard work. This lie has caused a ripple of problems generation after generation. We are living in a culture that is fast and has a ‘sleep when you’re dead’ mindset.
It is imperative to slow down and take good care of ourselves for the quality of our lives as well as the quality of other lives.
When we experience grief on top of caregiving it can be an emotionally and physically demanding experience.
It involves navigating the complexities of your grief while still meeting your own needs AND the needs of those who depend on you, whether they are children, ailing loved ones, other family members, your workplace, or your community. Taking good care of yourself, or not, literally effects everyone around you.
It can feel overwhelming and isolating.
The relief is found in seeking support, taking breaks, and accessing professional help or respite care when needed.
It is time to change the narrative of suffering in silence and a false sense of independence.
You have to do it by yourself, but you cannot do it alone.
We are not meant to carry it all without support. We are all here together and that means something. If we were meant to do it alone then we wouldn’t all be here together.