My days, months, and years as a caregiver to my husband have included many challenges in discovering who I am. For instance, I need to include physical activity in my day in order to maintain health, overall wellness and well-being. What about the days when I need respite, recreation, or rest? My days of ignoring my need for mental relaxation have recently come to a screeching halt….

  I am thankful for the nonprofits that have offered me and many others who care for their loved ones numerous free resources on much needed opportunities for respite. Among these wonderful opportunities are retreats for caregivers of veterans or service members. I’ve had the privilege of attending a few of these and have found them to be deeply rejuvenating, inspiring, and restorative when I…

At the close of 2016, I would like to provide an amazing resource that can be beneficial to military caregivers in 2017. Give An Hour is an organization that offers free counseling to those affected by war. Give An Hour provides easy access to skilled professionals for  veterans, service members, and their families.  New Year Resolution Military Caregivers — in 2017 let us commit to reach out…

My most recent blog, about why I’m creating a self-care plan (part 1), explains research behind why all caregivers need a similar plan for themselves, as outlined in “Military Caregivers: America’s Hidden Heroes.” In developing my own self-care plan to relieve stress and anxiety, and in exploring way to do this in my demanding life, I’ve come up with the list below. Following are a few…