On Good Morning America yesterday, Maria Shriver shared the stories of family caregivers of persons with Alzheimer’s. During the segment, Maria said: Family caregivers are victims, too.
I worry when we throw out terms like “victims” and apply them to family caregivers. A victim, in my mind, is powerless in a situation or circumstance. Once you give up your power, you’ve given up.
That’s not to say that a disease, like Alzheimer’s, that causes a caregiving situation isn’t horrible and dreadful. It is. It’s had a horrible impact on your life. It’s a dreadful situation to face every day.
But, if you’re a victim, then you wake up every day defeated. You say, I don’t think I can even try.
When you’re the anti-victim, you wake up and say: I’m going to try my best to be at my best so I can make the best of today.
This is my perspective, though. I’d love to hear yours. Please tell us in our comments section: Do you call yourself “victim”?
http://www.caregiving.com/
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
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