Young Life Interrupted - A Podcast For Young Caregivers

Step into an exploration of self-identity amidst the caregiver role in our latest episode of the Young Life Interrupted Podcast. Host Adrienne Glusman Marioles guides us through the intricate narratives of young caregivers who find themselves in the embarking or deep in the throes of their care journey, highlighting the pivotal importance of self-recognition while maintaining individuality.Every caregiver's journey begins with a unique story - driven by love, duty, or circumstance. However, as we immerse ourselves in caregiving, our identities can become intertwined with those we care for, often overshadowing our own stories. In this episode, Adrienne shares heartfelt anecdotes and keen insights, urging us to recognize the significance of acknowledging ourselves as caregivers without letting it consume our entire identity.Discover practical strategies to reclaim your sense of self while fulfilling your caregiving duties - from setting boundaries to nurturing personal interests and connections outside of caregiving. Let caregiving become a facet of your identity rather than its entirety, allowing room for growth, fulfillment, and self-discovery.Join us as we navigate the delicate balance between caregiving and personal identity, empowering young caregivers to embrace their multifaceted selves while caring for loved ones. Where we can connect:Join the Young Life Interrupted Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/younglifeinterruptedSubscribe to the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/young-life-interrupted-a-podcast-for-young-caregivers/id1578015965Connect with Adrienne on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/younglifeinterrupted/Follow Adrienne on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/younglifeinterruptedRate, Review & Follow on Apple Podcasts:"I'm loving Adrienne's content & the Young Life Interrupted Podcast"<-- if that sounds like you, please consider rating & reviewing my show!  This helps me support more people -- just like you -- move toward finding community, connection & resources to support them every step of their care journey.  Just follow these simple steps:Click hereScroll to the bottom Tap to rate with 5 starsSelect "Write a Review" & then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven't done so already, follow the podcast so you don't miss an episode.

In a world where comparison is almost inevitable, caregivers often find themselves comparing their journey to others', leading to unnecessary stress and grief. This episode of the Young Life Interrupted Podcast delves into the detrimental effects of comparing caregiving experiences, the dangers it poses, and strategies to break the comparison habit.We delve into topics such as: The Comparison Trap: We naturally compare ourselves to others, whether it's on social media or within caregiving communities. This habit can lead to feelings of inadequacy and insecurity.False Sense of Superiority vs. Inferiority: Comparing oneself to other caregivers can result in either feeling superior or inferior, both of which are harmful to the caregiving journey.Individualized Care Journeys: Each caregiving journey is unique, with its own challenges and triumphs. Comparing these journeys is futile and can hinder personal growth.Why Comparison is Wrong: Comparison holds us back from reaching our full potential, preventing us from focusing on our own journey and celebrating the successes of others.Breaking the Comparison Habit: Recognizing when we're comparing ourselves to others is the first step. By redirecting our thoughts to gratitude and focusing on our blessings, we can break free from the comparison trap.Takeaways:Embrace the uniqueness of your caregiving journey.Focus on gratitude and celebrate your own successes.Avoid comparing yourself to others, both in caregiving and in life.Join us as we explore the risks of comparison in caregiving and learn how to cultivate a mindset of self-compassion and appreciation for our own journey.Where we can connect:Join the Young Life Interrupted Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/younglifeinterruptedSubscribe to the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/young-life-interrupted-a-podcast-for-young-caregivers/id1578015965Connect with Adrienne on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/younglifeinterrupted/Follow Adrienne on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/younglifeinterruptedRate, Review & Follow on Apple Podcasts:"I'm loving Adrienne's content & the Young Life Interrupted Podcast"<-- if that sounds like you, please consider rating & reviewing my show!  This helps me support more people -- just like you -- move toward finding community, connection & resources to support them every step of their care journey.  Just follow these simple steps:Click hereScroll to the bottom Tap to rate with 5 starsSelect "Write a Review" & then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven't done so already, follow the podcast so you don't miss an episode.

In this episode of the Young Life Interrupted Podcast, we delve into a topic that often remains covered in stigma: senior living communities. As society grapples with the idea of placing loved ones in care facilities, feelings of guilt and shame can be a REAL.  Adrienne provides valuable insights and practical tips on how to overcome these emotional barriers, offering a compassionate perspective on a challenging decision many families face, including one she had to make, for her Mom.  Opposite to outdated perceptions, placing a loved one in a senior living community does not equal abandonment.  Adrienne addresses this common misconception head-on, highlighting the commendable intentions behind such decisions and the necessity for providing optimal care. Drawing from her own personal experiences the episode explores the intersection of family responsibility and practical caregiving realities.Moreover,  Adrienne offers guidance for those struggling with the decision to transition a loved one into senior living or those already navigating this journey. Recognizing the challenges of balancing care at home versus in a dedicated facility, the episode provides actionable strategies for overcoming guilt and embracing the transition with empathy and understanding.Whether you're a caregiver facing burnout or a family member navigating complex emotions, this episode offers support, reassurance, and a path forward towards compassionate care.Where we can connect:Join the Young Life Interrupted Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/younglifeinterruptedSubscribe to the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/young-life-interrupted-a-podcast-for-young-caregivers/id1578015965Connect with Adrienne on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/younglifeinterrupted/Follow Adrienne on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/younglifeinterruptedRate, Review & Follow on Apple Podcasts:"I'm loving Adrienne's content & the Young Life Interrupted Podcast"<-- if that sounds like you, please consider rating & reviewing my show!  This helps me support more people -- just like you -- move toward finding community, connection & resources to support them every step of their care journey.  Just follow these simple steps:Click hereScroll to the bottom Tap to rate with 5 starsSelect "Write a Review" & then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven't done so already, follow the podcast so you don't miss an episode.

What is an often overlooked but crucial aspect of caregiving that tends to get overlooked by those who aren't in the depths of it?  The administrative side - the intricate web of paperwork, bureaucracy, and multitasking that caregivers often find themselves entangled in.I'm thrilled to introduce our special guest today, Jessica O'Hara, a remarkable member of the Young Life Interrupted Facebook group and affectionately known by me as the "Caregiving Admin Queen." Jessica, at 35, has been navigating the challenging path of long-distance caregiving since the age of 29, caring for both her parents. Although her father sadly passed away a few months ago, Jessica continues to provide unwavering support to her mother, who battles Parkinson's disease.Jessica's unique journey and resilience make her an exceptional caregiver, and her role as a "personal assistant" in managing the intricate back-end aspects of caregiving sets her apart. Today, she graciously joins us to share her wealth of knowledge, accumulated through years of firsthand experience. As we all know, being a caregiver involves wearing numerous hats, and serving as a "personal assistant" becomes a full-time job in itself—juggling paperwork, phone calls, and forms, among other responsibilities.In this interview, Jessica opens up about her caregiving experiences, offering valuable insights and lessons learned. We delve into the challenges she has faced, the triumphs she has celebrated, and most importantly, the 10 tips and tricks she has developed for succeeding as a caregiving personal assistant. Where we can connect:Join the Young Life Interrupted Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/younglifeinterruptedSubscribe to the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/young-life-interrupted-a-podcast-for-young-caregivers/id1578015965Connect with Adrienne on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/younglifeinterrupted/Follow Adrienne on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/younglifeinterruptedRate, Review & Follow on Apple Podcasts:"I'm loving Adrienne's content & the Young Life Interrupted Podcast"<-- if that sounds like you, please consider rating & reviewing my show!  This helps me support more people -- just like you -- move toward finding community, connection & resources to support them every step of their care journey.  Just follow these simple steps:Click hereScroll to the bottom Tap to rate with 5 starsSelect "Write a Review" & then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven't done so already, follow the podcast so you don't miss an episode.

Anddddd the holidays are upon us. For most, the holiday's are a time of joy and excitement, but as a caregiver, they are oftentimes filled with dread, and even more depression, and anxiety.  They are never going to be as easy  and enjoyable as they were prior to caregiving, but they can get a little bit better.  In this episode, I share personal stories of Thanksgiving's as a young caregiver and also some tips to make Thanksgiving, and the holiday's a little bit more manageable.  I know you're probably so eager to get past the holidays, but this year, why not try to be intentional about implementing something small to lighten the load a little bit. This Thanksgiving, and everyday, I am so thankful for you for taking the time to listen to this podcast and for all you do for your loved one everyday.  It is because of you that this podcast and platform for young caregivers exists and for that I will be forever thankful.   A free gift from me to you! CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE YOUNG CAREGIVER SURVIVAL GUIDE: Your Cliffs Notes guide to surviving (& thriving) while caregiving. Whether you're preparing to care, new to your caregiving role or a seasoned caregiver, these tips will help save you time, energy and regret throughout your care journey. This guide includes simple yet effective strategies to prepare & support you through the challenging times.Where we can connect:Join the Young Life Interrupted Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/younglifeinterruptedSubscribe to the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/young-life-interrupted-a-podcast-for-young-caregivers/id1578015965Connect with Adrienne on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/younglifeinterrupted/Follow Adrienne on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/younglifeinterruptedRate, Review & Follow on Apple Podcasts:"I'm loving Adrienne's content & the Young Life Interrupted Podcast"<-- if that sounds like you, please consider rating & reviewing my show!  This helps me support more people -- just like you -- move toward finding community, connection & resources to support them every step of their care journey.  Just follow these simple steps:Click hereScroll to the bottom Tap to rate with 5 starsSelect "Write a Review" & then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven't done so already, follow the podcast so you don't miss an episode!

A free gift from me to you! CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE YOUNG CAREGIVER SURVIVAL GUIDE: Your Cliffs Notes guide to surviving (& thriving) while caregiving. Whether you're preparing to care, new to your caregiving role or a seasoned caregiver, these tips will help save you time, energy and regret throughout your care journey. This guide includes simple yet effective strategies to prepare & support you through the challenging times.It's November and National Family Caregivers Awareness Month.  On today's episode I discuss the importance of the month, what it means, how the theme of this year's month is one of the most important things you can do for yourself as a caregiver and express my gratitude to you, young caregiver, for all you do, all the while infusing my own personal stories and experiences into the mix.   Enjoy the episode! Links mentioned in the episode:President Biden Proclaims November 2023 as National Family Caregivers MonthWhere we can connect:Join the Young Life Interrupted Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/younglifeinterruptedSubscribe to the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/young-life-interrupted-a-podcast-for-young-caregivers/id1578015965Connect with Adrienne on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/younglifeinterrupted/Follow Adrienne on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/younglifeinterruptedRate, Review & Follow on Apple Podcasts:"I'm loving Adrienne's content & the Young Life Interrupted Podcast"<-- if that sounds like you, please consider rating & reviewing my show!  This helps me support more people -- just like you -- move toward finding community, connection & resources to support them every step of their care journey.  Just follow these simple steps:Click hereScroll to the bottom Tap to rate with 5 starsSelect "Write a Review" & then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven't done so already, follow the podcast so you don't miss an episode!

A free gift from me to you! CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE YOUNG CAREGIVER SURVIVAL GUIDE: Your Cliffs Notes guide to surviving (& thriving) while caregiving. Whether you're preparing to care, new to your caregiving role or a seasoned caregiver, these tips will help save you time, energy and regret throughout your care journey. This guide includes simple yet effective strategies to prepare & support you through the challenging times.Whether you are a caregiver now, have a parent or spouse who may need help someday, or are thinking about your own health, it's never too soon to start planning for the time when help is needed.  In this episode, I will help you organize important documents, medical information and the home and also stress the importance of planning in advance and revisiting plans that may have been put in place years ago.  I'm sharing the mistakes I made and the things I wish I would have planned for,  and educated myself about sooner so you don't make the same ones. Links mentioned in the episode:Advanced Directive forms DNRMedicare & home safety assessmentsHome Safety ChecklistWhere we can connect:Join the Young Life Interrupted Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/younglifeinterruptedSubscribe to the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/young-life-interrupted-a-podcast-for-young-caregivers/id1578015965Connect with Adrienne on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/younglifeinterrupted/Follow Adrienne on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/younglifeinterruptedRate, Review & Follow on Apple Podcasts:"I'm loving Adrienne's content & the Young Life Interrupted Podcast"<-- if that sounds like you, please consider rating & reviewing my show!  This helps me support more people -- just like you -- move toward finding community, connection & resources to support them every step of their care journey.  Just follow these simple steps:Click hereScroll to the bottom Tap to rate with 5 starsSelect "Write a Review" & then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven't done so already, follow the podcast so you don't miss an episode!

A free gift from me to you! CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE YOUNG CAREGIVER SURVIVAL GUIDE: Your Cliffs Notes guide to surviving (& thriving) while caregiving. Whether you're preparing to care, new to your caregiving role or a seasoned caregiver, these tips will help save you time, energy and regret throughout your care journey. This guide includes simple yet effective strategies to prepare & support you through the challenging times.If there’s one stage in life during which job flexibility is extra valuable, it’s when you’re a caregiver for a loved one while also trying to do your best at work. Caregivers get caught in the crosshairs, responsible for the home front, caregiving, and a profession which leads many of them to have to either reduce their hours or quit their job completely.  When you have that trifecta of responsibilities, caring for aging parents and/or raising children at the same time while working, it can take a significant toll on your career and work performance. The stress can be tremendous. In reality, you’re essentially holding down two jobs, and work-life balance takes on a whole new meaning!Just know that you are not alone. In today's episode I share my career journey while caregiving - going from working a 9-5 job to finding remote work to eventually starting my own small business, all while caregiving for my Mom.   I share the ups and downs and the motivation behind wanting to become my own boss - one thing I will NEVER regret & helped me tremendously in balancing the demands of caregiving.   Where we can connect:Join the Young Life Interrupted Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/younglifeinterruptedSubscribe to the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/young-life-interrupted-a-podcast-for-young-caregivers/id1578015965Connect with Adrienne on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/younglifeinterrupted/Follow Adrienne on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/younglifeinterruptedRate, Review & Follow on Apple Podcasts:"I'm loving Adrienne's content & the Young Life Interrupted Podcast"<-- if that sounds like you, please consider rating & reviewing my show!  This helps me support more people -- just like you -- move toward finding community, connection & resources to support them every step of their care journey.  Just follow these simple steps:Click hereScroll to the bottom Tap to rate with 5 starsSelect "Write a Review" & then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven't done so already, follow the podcast so you don't miss an episode!

A free gift from me to you! CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE YOUNG CAREGIVER SURVIVAL GUIDE: Your Cliffs Notes guide to surviving (& thriving) while caregiving. Whether you're preparing to care, new to your caregiving role or a seasoned caregiver, these tips will help save you time, energy and regret throughout your care journey. This guide includes simple yet effective strategies to prepare & support you through the challenging times.There’s a hidden mechanism that creates unhappiness, difficulty changing habits, relationship problems, frustration, anger and disappointment. Barely anyone is aware of this hidden mechanism, even though it’s happening all the time, in all of us.It’s the stories we tell ourselves.As they relate to caregiving it’s the stories around what it means to be a caregiver at a young age, how much we need to give of ourselves as caregivers, how good, or bad of a caregiver we are, that caregiving is our whole story, not just a small part... and I'm sure you could add many more of your stories to the list!  Our perception of the world is shaped by the stories we tell ourselves. We all have an internal narrative (self-talk) about who we are. Sometimes, self-talk can be constructive and life-affirming, but self-talk can also become distorted, creating a consistently negative point of view that’s detrimental to our mental and emotional health.In this episode I talk about flipping the perspective on the stories we tell ourselves and simple tips to keep top of mind to start noticing what you are telling yourself about everything as it relates to caregiving & other areas of your life. NY Times Magazine article - The Agony of Putting Your Life on Hold to Care for Your ParentsWhere we can connect:Join the Young Life Interrupted Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/younglifeinterruptedSubscribe to the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/young-life-interrupted-a-podcast-for-young-caregivers/id1578015965Connect with Adrienne on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/younglifeinterrupted/Follow Adrienne on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/younglifeinterruptedRate, Review & Follow on Apple Podcasts:"I'm loving Adrienne's content & the Young Life Interrupted Podcast"<-- if that sounds like you, please consider rating & reviewing my show!  This helps me support more people -- just like you -- move toward finding community, connection & resources to support them every step of their care journey.  Just follow these simple steps:Click hereScroll to the bottom Tap to rate with 5 starsSelect "Write a Review" & then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven't done so already, follow the podcast so you don't miss an episode! 

A free gift from me to you! CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE YOUNG CAREGIVER SURVIVAL GUIDE: Your Cliffs Notes guide to surviving (& thriving) while caregiving. Whether you're preparing to care, new to your caregiving role or a seasoned caregiver, these tips will help save you time, energy and regret throughout your care journey. This guide includes simple yet effective strategies to prepare & support you through the challenging times.**********How do you define success in your caregiving role?Just like any other role we take on in our life be it spouse, parent, employee - we tie measures of success to how well we are doing in fulfilling our role.  And our caregiving role is no different.  Caregiving is no easy task yet the goals and expectations we set for ourselves, in terms of how successful we are in our caregiving role, can quickly drag us down and cause a mental spiral - we aren't doing enough, we should have done this or that, if I would have taken the time to put this in place we wouldn't be here - and the list goes on and on. In this episode, I share the unrealistic goals and expectations I put on myself which rarely had me feel like I was successful in my caregiving role  I also share better ways to define success in caregiving so success feels more realistic and doable and qualities to be aware of and work on to help you become more successful in your role and redefine how you view that success. NY Times Magazine article - The Agony of Putting Your Life on Hold to Care for Your Parents Where we can connect:Join the Young Life Interrupted Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/younglifeinterruptedSubscribe to the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/young-life-interrupted-a-podcast-for-young-caregivers/id1578015965Connect with Adrienne on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/younglifeinterrupted/Follow Adrienne on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/younglifeinterruptedRate, Review & Follow on Apple Podcasts:"I'm loving Adrienne's content & the Young Life Interrupted Podcast"<-- if that sounds like you, please consider rating & reviewing my show!  This helps me support more people -- just like you -- move toward finding community, connection & resources to support them every step of their care journey.  Just follow these simple steps:Click hereScroll to the bottom Tap to rate with 5 starsSelect "Write a Review" & then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven't done so already, follow the podcast so you don't miss an episode! 

A free gift from me to you! CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE YOUNG CAREGIVER SURVIVAL GUIDE: Your Cliffs Notes guide to surviving (& thriving) while caregiving. Whether you're preparing to care, new to your caregiving role or a seasoned caregiver, these tips will help save you time, energy and regret throughout your care journey. This guide includes simple yet effective strategies to prepare & support you through the challenging times.I know Mother's Day was a hard one for many of you... I know it was for me...Whether you still have your Mom, or a loved one who is like a Mom, but the relationship is so different because the roles have come 360 and you've now become a Mom to your Mom.Whether your Mom is still with you but doesn't remember who you are.Whether you've lost your Mom recently or not so recently.Whether you're a Mom also taking care of a spouse or a loved one.Whether you care for you Mom but have always had a strained relationship, even before she became dependent.Whether you're a long distance caregiver for your Mom and battle the guilt about not living closer.Holidays don't take on that overrated Hallmark feel when you're a Caregiver... they just plain suck. In today's episode, I share some reflections of past Mother's Day's - those when my Mom was still here and the first one without her. I also share regrets that I'm now able to look back on - things I want you to be aware of so you don't have to regret them too when your care journey has come to an end. Where we can connect:Join the Young Life Interrupted Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/younglifeinterruptedSubscribe to the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/young-life-interrupted-a-podcast-for-young-caregivers/id1578015965Connect with Adrienne on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/younglifeinterrupted/Follow Adrienne on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/younglifeinterruptedRate, Review & Follow on Apple Podcasts:"I'm loving Adrienne's content & the Young Life Interrupted Podcast"<-- if that sounds like you, please consider rating & reviewing my show!  This helps me support more people -- just like you -- move toward finding community, connection & resources to support them every step of their care journey.  Just follow these simple steps:Click hereScroll to the bottom Tap to rate with 5 starsSelect "Write a Review" & then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven't done so already, follow the podcast so you don't miss an episode! 

A free gift from me to you! CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE YOUNG CAREGIVER SURVIVAL GUIDE: Your Cliffs Notes guide to surviving (& thriving) while caregiving. Whether you're preparing to care, new to your caregiving role or a seasoned caregiver, these tips will help save you time, energy and regret throughout your care journey. This guide includes simple yet effective strategies to prepare & support you through the challenging times.We all do and say things we feel ashamed of. And, because of that, we all need to compassionately care for ourselves in order to fully heal from our mistakes & care for our loved ones better. I am the queen of self-sabotage - in every area of my life so when I became a caregiver and had this new added responsibility and pressure to meet up to this new set of expectations I set forth for myself, it only exacerbated the lack of compassion I had for myself - everyday. This episode walks you through my experience with learning to be a bit more kind and compassionate with myself while caregiving and also ways I found, along my care journey, to learn how to cultivate self-compassion I think could be helpful for you to try to implement too!  Where we can connect:Join the Young Life Interrupted Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/younglifeinterruptedSubscribe to the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/young-life-interrupted-a-podcast-for-young-caregivers/id1578015965Connect with Adrienne on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/younglifeinterrupted/Follow Adrienne on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/younglifeinterruptedRate, Review & Follow on Apple Podcasts:"I'm loving Adrienne's content & the Young Life Interrupted Podcast"<-- if that sounds like you, please consider rating & reviewing my show!  This helps me support more people -- just like you -- move toward finding community, connection & resources to support them every step of their care journey.  Just follow these simple steps:Click hereScroll to the bottom Tap to rate with 5 starsSelect "Write a Review" & then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven't done so already, follow the podcast so you don't miss an episode! 

A free gift from me to you! CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE YOUNG CAREGIVER SURVIVAL GUIDE: Your Cliffs Notes guide to surviving (& thriving) while caregiving. Whether you're preparing to care, new to your caregiving role or a seasoned caregiver, these tips will help save you time, energy and regret throughout your care journey. This guide includes simple yet effective strategies to prepare & support you through the challenging times.You may hear people talk about holding onto hope and that can mean different things for each and every one of us.  As a caregiver, especially at a young age, our sense of hope for what our future holds starts to get clouded as we feel we have been silo’d into this holding tank causing our thoughts, purpose and dreams for the future to take a downward spiral.  Having hope seems pointless as your life is in limbo and there is no set date for when this journey will come to an end - it could be 1 month it could be 10 years - how do you plan and hold onto hope when everything is in flux?  A feeling that we are no longer in control of our life and our future, as it seemed we once were become dominant and in turn we start to question everything and slowly lose our sense of identity as caregiving seems to overtake all aspects of our lives.  We aren’t afforded the time to do the things we used to do that lit us up, brought us joy and really helped define who we are. In this episode I talk through what hope actually is, positive and negative aspects of hope to gain an understanding of how it impacts your thinking, feelings and behavior & tips to improve your mood and help pull you out of those periods of hopelessness that are inevitable but don't have to be a constant in your life. Where we can connect:Join the Young Life Interrupted Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/younglifeinterruptedSubscribe to the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/young-life-interrupted-a-podcast-for-young-caregivers/id1578015965Connect with Adrienne on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/younglifeinterrupted/Follow Adrienne on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/younglifeinterruptedRate, Review & Follow on Apple Podcasts:"I'm loving Adrienne's content & the Young Life Interrupted Podcast"<-- if that sounds like you, please consider rating & reviewing my show!  This helps me support more people -- just like you -- move toward finding community, connection & resources to support them every step of their care journey.  Just follow these simple steps:Click hereScroll to the bottom Tap to rate with 5 starsSelect "Write a Review" & then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven't done so already, follow the podcast so you don't miss an episode!  

A free gift from me to you! CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE YOUNG CAREGIVER SURVIVAL GUIDE: Your Cliffs Notes guide to surviving (& thriving) while caregiving. Whether you're preparing to care, new to your caregiving role or a seasoned caregiver, these tips will help save you time, energy and regret throughout your care journey. This guide includes simple yet effective strategies to prepare & support you through the challenging times.Like many of you, in my 10 years as a caregiver, I knew I should be grateful, but figuring out how to be thankful, when you’re not, is tricky.   Perhaps you just fell into caregiving, have been caregiving for a long time, are experiencing your first holidays as a caregiver  or your first without your loved one - whatever the case may be depending on what is going on in your life right now, giving thanks may not be top of mind.  As you know, your world can fall apart in an instant or slowly unravel over time. The reality is, as hard as it can be, practicing gratitude through thick and thin increases not just our sense of well-being, but our happiness, optimism, connection, empathy, and even reduces our aggression.  All these benefits are exactly what we need as we navigate the hard seasons of life and struggle with pain, grief, disappointment, and worry, since more often than not, our situation does not have an expiration date.  So in this episode I walk you through some actionable steps you can put in place,  when you don’t feel thankful, Thanksgiving or otherwise, to slowly start weaving gratitude into your daily life.  Where we can connect:Join the Young Life Interrupted Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/younglifeinterruptedSubscribe to the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/young-life-interrupted-a-podcast-for-young-caregivers/id1578015965Connect with Adrienne on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/younglifeinterrupted/Follow Adrienne on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/younglifeinterruptedRate, Review & Follow on Apple Podcasts:"I'm loving Adrienne's content & the Young Life Interrupted Podcast"<-- if that sounds like you, please consider rating & reviewing my show!  This helps me support more people -- just like you -- move toward finding community, connection & resources to support them every step of their care journey.  Just follow these simple steps:Click hereScroll to the bottom Tap to rate with 5 starsSelect "Write a Review" & then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven't done so already, follow the podcast so you don't miss an episode!  

Enjoy a free gift from me!  I've created a free PDF that recaps the tips discussed in this episode so that when you find yourself falling into the trap of what you can't control you can reference back to remind yourself how to flip the narrative & reduce the overwhelm FASTER.  Click here to snag your free cheat sheet on 10 Things You Can't Control in Caregiving, and what you CAN Control Instead.   Focusing on the things you can’t control in caregiving consumes your time, zaps your energy and keeps you from honing in on the things you CAN control.  I can definitely be a bit of a control freak which is why it was really hard - and took me a really long time in my care journey - to recognize that there were a LOT of things that were out of my control as a caregiver.   I'm a "fixer" as I'm sure a lot of you are too and come from the place of "well I'll just figure out another way to try to fix this."  I caused myself so much stress, exhaustion, sadness and defeat as I was pouring all of my energy into trying to control and "fix" elements of my Mom or the caregiving situation that were completely out of my hands. It wasn't until I started business coaching and learned about this concept of the Fixed vs. Growth mindset that I realized I could apply this to how I react to caregiving situations too that I had an "AHA" moment and started slowly shifting my energy to focus on the things I could control and try to manage those aspects as best I could.  Letting go of the things I couldn't control allowed me to reduce my stress and start leading a happier life (because I could ease up on the pressure I was putting on myself to be the ultimate fixer) and leave the stress for other areas of caregiving.   I hope this episode will encourage you to let go and stop giving energy to the things you can’t control instead taking small daily actions to flip the narrative when you find yourself getting trapped in something you know you shouldn’t be giving your energy to because it is 100% out of your control.  Where we can connect:Join the Young Life Interrupted Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/younglifeinterruptedSubscribe to the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/young-life-interrupted-a-podcast-for-young-caregivers/id1578015965Connect with Adrienne on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/younglifeinterrupted/Follow Adrienne on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/younglifeinterruptedRate, Review & Follow on Apple Podcasts: "I'm loving Adrienne's content & the Young Life Interrupted Podcast" <-- if that sounds like you, please consider rating & reviewing my show!  This helps me support more people -- just like you -- move toward finding community, connection & resources to support them every step of their care journey.  Just follow these simple steps:Click hereScroll to the bottom Tap to rate with 5 starsSelect "Write a Review" & then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven't done so already, follow the podcast so you don't miss an episode!  

When you think of "young caregiver" it seems only natural for the brain to automatically defer to daughter, granddaughter, wife, sister - but what about the husbands, son's, grandsons and brothers who are stepping up to the plate and fighting the fight alongside their loved one everyday. My guest today, Justin Bajema is doing just that.  Justin has been caring for his wife Sarah since 2013 . After the onset of a chronic migraine, her health slowly declined until she was bedridden for three years. It has been a slow climb since then, and while Sarah’s health has improved, she is still mostly homebound. In addition to the chronic migraine, she’s been diagnosed with ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome),  fibromyalgia and a dysautonomic condition called POTS. Justin was one of the first male caregivers I connected with when I entered the caregiving space on Instagram and was honored to have him speak out, for the first time, about his care journey as one of the Millennial Caregiver Spotlights I showcased in 2019.   Caregiving has often been an isolating experience for Justin, but connecting with other caregivers online and hearing their stories has helped him feel less alone. As a co-host of the In Sickness Podcast, Justin hopes sharing his story can help others in similar situations.So to all the male caregivers, you are seen, heard and do not go unnoticed for what you do.  And to society, let's start making them more a bigger part of the young caregiver narrative.   CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE YOUNG CAREGIVER SURVIVAL GUIDE:Your Cliffs Notes guide to surviving (& thriving) while caregiving. Whether you're preparing to care, new to your caregiving role or a seasoned caregiver, these tips will help save you time, energy and regret throughout your care journey. This guide includes simple yet effective strategies to prepare & support you through the challenging times.Where to connect with Justin:On Instagram - @bajema and @insicknesspodcastWhere we can connect:Join the Young Life Interrupted Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/younglifeinterruptedSubscribe to the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/young-life-interrupted-a-podcast-for-young-caregivers/id1578015965Connect with Adrienne on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/younglifeinterrupted/Follow Adrienne on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/younglifeinterruptedRate, Review & Follow on Apple Podcasts:"I'm loving Adrienne's content & the Young Life Interrupted Podcast"<-- if that sounds like you, please consider rating & reviewing my show!  This helps me support more people -- just like you -- move toward finding community, connection & resources to support them every step of their care journey.  Just follow these simple steps:Click hereScroll to the bottom Tap to rate with 5 starsSelect "Write a Review" & then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven't done so already, follow the podcast so you don't miss an episode! 

When you fall into caregiving at a young age, you may be navigating what career path you want to take, have finally landed your dream job after years of hard-work and sacrifice, or perhaps are rocking it out & climbing the ranks in your organization.  You've got the time, energy and drive to move this area of your life ahead and really set yourself up for a solid future.   Then, you fall into caregiving and balancing the demands of career, caregiving and personal life seem nearly impossible.  You can't focus while you're at work because you're so immersed in your caregiving role, your quality of work is starting to slip because you aren't as present and have to take more PTO time for appointments and caregiving emergencies & you may be afraid to let your supervisor/coworkers know about your situation for fear of possibly not getting that next promotion or opportunity that may arise.  How can you possibly continue working full time and balancing it all - somethings gotta give.    Well, I'm here to tell you, it's possible.  Which is why I asked my special guest to come on the podcast to share how she has navigated her career and caregiving journey.  Meet Jessica Guthrie, or as many of you may know her from Instagram, When Career & Caregiving Collide -  a full-time, millennial caregiver, advocate, educator and non-profit senior executive. Jessica is the full time caregiver for her mother who was diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer’s Disease seven years ago. For the first half of her journey, Jessica was caregiving from a distance while she worked in Texas and her mother lived in Virginia. After years of consistent travel she recently moved back home to live with her mother to ensure she received the most attentive care.  Jessica deeply cares about amplifying the voices and experiences of millennial caregivers and shares how she navigates the complexities and rigors of the healthcare system while continuing to thrive in her career growth and intentionally balance her own self-care and wellbeing.  Where to connect with Jessica:On Instagram - @careercaregivingcollideWhere we can connect:Join the Young Life Interrupted Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/younglifeinterruptedSubscribe to the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/young-life-interrupted-a-podcast-for-young-caregivers/id1578015965Connect with Adrienne on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/younglifeinterrupted/Follow Adrienne on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/younglifeinterruptedCLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE YOUNG CAREGIVER SURVIVAL GUIDE:Your Cliffs Notes guide to surviving (& thriving) while caregiving. Whether you're preparing to care, new to your caregiving role or a seasoned caregiver, these tips will help save you time, energy and regret throughout your care journey. This guide includes simple yet effective strategies to prepare & support you through the challenging times.

I've got a freebie for you!!...CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE YOUNG CAREGIVER SURVIVAL GUIDE:Your Cliffs Notes guide to surviving (& thriving) while caregiving. Whether you're preparing to care, new to your caregiving role or a seasoned caregiver, these tips will help save you time, energy and regret throughout your care journey. This guide includes simple yet effective strategies to prepare & support you through the challenging times.Some things simply shouldn’t be said. When they come from people who don’t understand what you are going through, even well-intentioned comments and questions can be frustrating and hurtful.I heard a lot of these comments from people who probably should know better but I attributed it to them wanting to help, but not having the correct vocabulary, similar to when someone passes away.  They want to commiserate, show empathy and affection, but don’t understand what to say or do. It’s okay. On today's episode, I rounded up a bunch of comments young caregivers have heard from others that are like nails on a chalkboard that I don't doubt will provide a few laughs & LOTS of validation.  Where we can connect:Join the Young Life Interrupted Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/younglifeinterruptedSubscribe to the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/young-life-interrupted-a-podcast-for-young-caregivers/id1578015965Connect with Adrienne on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/younglifeinterrupted/Follow Adrienne on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/younglifeinterruptedRate, Review & Follow on Apple Podcasts:"I'm loving Adrienne's content & the Young Life Interrupted Podcast"<-- if that sounds like you, please consider rating & reviewing my show!  This helps me support more people -- just like you -- move toward finding community, connection & resources to support them every step of their care journey.  Just follow these simple steps:Click hereScroll to the bottom Tap to rate with 5 starsSelect "Write a Review" & then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven't done so already, follow the podcast so you don't miss an episode!  Click here to follow now.  Just tap that plus sign icon in the upper right hand corner of your screen.  Once it's gone from a plus sign to a check-mark you're officially following! 

I've got a freebie for you!!...CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE YOUNG CAREGIVER SURVIVAL GUIDE:Your Cliffs Notes guide to surviving (& thriving) while caregiving. Whether you're preparing to care, new to your caregiving role or a seasoned caregiver, these tips will help save you time, energy and regret throughout your care journey. This guide includes simple yet effective strategies to prepare & support you through the challenging times.Do you live away from your loved one?    Perhaps they are in the early stage of their disease and still able to manage most things themselves but you've started to step in to manage some aspects of their life and are visiting them more frequently. Or maybe you're a daughter, son, sister or grandson who lives in another city or state & helps support the primary caregiver (another family member) by managing the back-end admin aspects of caregiving (because that alone is a full-time job).   As a long-distance daughter for 7 years, my guest today, Laura Smothers-Chu, understands firsthand the struggles caregivers face when caring for their parents from afar as she was a long-distance young caregiver to her dad with Dementia helping support her Mom.  In today's episode we talk about the stigma associated with long-distance caregiving and ways in which you can help support the primary caregiver (there are more than you think)!   And if you are the primary caregiver, listening to this episode, and want to open the lines of communication to talk to family members or the long distance caregiver about helping, we guarantee  the easiest way is sending them this podcast episode.    Laura Smothers-Chu is the CEO & Founder of Befriended Heart, LLC, a for-purpose business that specializes in empowering long-distance caregivers of dementia.  Through Befriended Heart, she helps long-distance caregivers navigate their parents' dementia. With a 10+ year career in healthcare, Laura is Certified to Advise Elders (CSA®), she’s a Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP®), and she hosts a YouTube channel called Joy in Dementia. Where to connect with Laura:On the web: https://www.joyindementia.comOn Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/joy.in.dementiaWhere we can connect:Join the Young Life Interrupted Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/younglifeinterruptedSubscribe to the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/young-life-interrupted-a-podcast-for-young-caregivers/id1578015965Connect with Adrienne on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/younglifeinterrupted/Follow Adrienne on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/younglifeinterrupted

Caregiving is hard enough without the added guilt that often comes with all the responsibilities.  We often carry around undeserved guilt, believing we aren't doing enough for our loved ones that can make the caregiving role even more stressful than it already is.But often, the guilt that we feel isn’t deserved.We tend to hold ourselves to unreasonable standards like being able to do everything without help, having a solution for every problem, always making the “right” decision, never getting upset or frustrated, and more.None of that is realistic, but yet, we criticize ourselves when we inevitably fall short of the inhuman expectations.If you're the kind of person prone to guilt (like I was) on today's episode I share some of the biggest causes of guilt throughout our care journeys and ways for dealing with the guilt that can help improve your health and well-being so that guilt serves you rather than imprisons you. Where we can connect:Join the Young Life Interrupted Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/younglifeinterruptedSubscribe to the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/young-life-interrupted-a-podcast-for-young-caregivers/id1578015965Connect with Adrienne on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/younglifeinterrupted/Follow Adrienne on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/younglifeinterruptedCLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE YOUNG CAREGIVER SURVIVAL GUIDE:Your Cliffs Notes guide to surviving (& thriving) while caregiving. Whether you're preparing to care, new to your caregiving role or a seasoned caregiver, these tips will help save you time, energy and regret throughout your care journey. This guide includes simple yet effective strategies to prepare & support you through the challenging times.