The answer to this question
is simple: Yes!!
I’ve had people tell
me, “At this time in my life, I just can’t afford the time to
journal.” And my answer is often, “At this time in your life, you
can’t afford not to journal!”
Keeping a journal can be
therapeutic for a caregiver. It’s intensely personal. It’s not
meant for anyone else to see. But – time and time again – I hear
from those who’ve tried it that it helps them express their
feelings, and serves as a relief valve for some of the built-up
stress.
Journaling isn’t a drain
on your time. Quite the contrary. While you’re doing it, it often
slows down time, allowing you to put things into perspective.
It doesn’t have to be done every day. But it should be done at
least several times a week. And it doesn’t have to be done for an
hour a day. Even 15-20 minutes will be helpful.
It enables you to deal
with the guilt, anger, fear, frustration, resentment, and any other
emotion. There are no bad emotions during this time. But there are
emotions that can hurt you if you don’t deal
with them.
There are no rules. Some
people write to themselves. Others write to the disease…for
example, saying how much it’s destroyed their plans and dreams,
etc. Journaling helps to straighten out jumbled thoughts, and make
things clearer.
Journaling should be only
one part of your “program,” however. Talk to your friends and
family. And consider joining a support group. This will help address
your feelings of isolation - because, in that room, everyone knows
what you’re going through.
This may be the hardest
period of your life. But we can help.
At the Law Offices of
Alice Reiter Feld & Associates, we’re Elder Law attorneys. Over
the past 33 years, we’ve walked thousands of South Florida families
through the Dementia Journey. And we’ve helped them prepare for the
possibility of it, as well, with comprehensive estate planning,
wills, trusts, powers of attorney, long-term care planning,
asset-protection plans, and assistance with Medicaid and the VA.
We can show you the way. And
we’re just a phone call away.
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