What kind of stress is associated with caring for a loved one who is ill or elderly?
I’ve found that the stress I’ve endured as a result of providing care for my husband is like a ladder. You can climb up and down the ladder, and have stress associated with each level, but somehow the steps are always interconnected. One always leads to another. I am constantly in and out of crisis mode. As the cancer worsens or my husband goes into remission, it’s in and out, in and out. It’s important to be aware when you’re in crisis mode, and know that you can — and will — come out of it. I’m the chief go-getter. I can delegate tasks and responsibilities to family and friends as much as possible, but at the end of the day, I am still fully responsible for my husband’s well-being. I’ve found that people are willing to help at first, but 6 years later, they slowly fade out of the picture. I’m left to take care of him. I’m left to be chief. I put myself second. I know that I shouldn’t. My loved one doesn’t want it to be that way. We both love and value each other, but over time, it wa
