Survivors

Today was two years, one month, and one day after Diane died. I was talking with a friend about it, and I had a complete meltdown as six years of grief and frustration poured out. I am grateful for the understanding and comfort of my friend who helped me deal with it. This kind of experience happens to a lot of caregivers, as well as anyone who goes through stressful life events. Support at those times is invaluable.

I shared this experience with the people in the Alzheimer’s Association caregiver support group I attend. Everyone there understood. They all have felt that stress and we talk about it every week. Some of them have gone through the same kind of collapse, and we help each other to get back up and go on. It doesn’t end when the one you cared for is gone. There’s a lot of emotional injury that needs to heal.