The Power of the Pause: Finding Relief in Caregiving with Jenn Fredericks
Description
Jenn Fredericks is the featured guest in this episode, sharing her deeply personal journey as both a long-term patient and a dedicated caregiver. Diagnosed with chronic kidney disease as a teenager, Jenn received her first kidney transplant from her father at age 15, and later a second from her husband’s twin brother. Her life took another challenging turn when her adopted daughter was diagnosed with a brain tumor at the age of eight. Jenn describes the overwhelming responsibilities of managing her own health while navigating her daughter’s complex medical needs, all while supporting her family and working through the emotional toll of caregiving.
Throughout the episode, Jenn offers candid insights into the realities of caregiver exhaustion, discussing moments of vulnerability, anxiety, and the struggle to maintain resilience. She emphasizes the importance of taking intentional pauses—physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual—to recharge and remain present for loved ones. Drawing from her experiences, Jenn has developed resources such as a caregiver exhaustion quiz and founded the Carewell Circle, an online community for caregivers seeking support and connection. Her story is a testament to the power of self-awareness, community, and proactive self-care in the face of ongoing caregiving challenges.
About Jenn:
Jenn Fredericks understands the unique challenges of caregiving from a deeply personal perspective. For over 30 years, she has navigated her own health journey with chronic kidney disease, which has included two transplants. For more than a decade, she has also been a caregiver for her daughter through complex health challenges, including a brain tumor, and she now provides long-distance care for her parents.
This extensive experience led Jenn to a powerful realization. While others called her "resilient," she often felt overwhelmed, to the point of being unable to walk through her own front door. Recognizing the gap between her inner feelings and the world's perception, she became a Personal Resilience Practitioner and Prosilience Coach. She discovered that true resilience isn't about being tougher; it begins with learning how to find small moments of presence, even in the middle of chaos.
To share these insights with other caregivers, Jenn founded Carewell Circle, a community for those who understand the complex emotions of loving someone deeply while feeling trapped. She has also created a guide titled "Caregiving Relief You Don't Have to Wait For." Through her work, she teaches others the same powerful techniques that helped her find peace amidst her own challenges.
Quiz: “What’s Draining You Most Right Now?”
subscribepage.io/caregiverquiz
Carewell Circle:
swarm.store/jenn-fredericks-prosilience-coach
Thank you to our sponsor: CareScout
Confessions of a Reluctant Caregiver
Sisterhood of Care, LLC
United States
