Apr 21, 2011

Being true to oneself

"How difficult it is to avoid having a special standard for oneself," C. S. Lewis.

As dementia caregivers we have undoubtedly seen around us people who have handled caregiving both well and not so well. This is a very difficult task: providing caregiving for someone with dementia. Let us be realistic that it is truly very difficult, and let us intend to do this task in the way we want. It is possible. With support and with having a very clear intention of how we want to "be" in the caregiving task, we can see ourselves in the role in the ways we want to be. Sometimes people fall short in their behaviors, and that is human. What is to be avoided is not taking responsibility for falling short. At recent workshop I went to on Understanding Personality Disorders, the presenter said that one of the main differences between those of us who have mental health and those who do not is: taking responsibility for ourselves and choosing among the options we have.

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