12 Ways to Provide Support to a Senior Coping with a Critical Illness
My mom was recently diagnosed with a critical form of long cancer. While her Los Angeles doctors have been unable to predict exactly how long she has, it looks pretty good that this disease will take her from us. I’m trying to do everything I can to offer my support to her, but I have to admit, I’m dealing with a lot emotionally. What can I do to cope with my mom’s illness so I can be the best caregiver possible to her during these trying times for the whole family?
A – It’s perfectly normal for you to go through your own grieving process once you’ve learned that your mother has a critical illness. While it’s important that you’re there for your mom, you also need to take care of yourself, and there are 5 ways that you can try and cope with your loved one’s pending mortality:
1) Remember, it won’t be easy for anyone, and no one expects it to be
2) You will feel a variety of emotions, ranging from sadness, anger, and guilt
3) Allow yourself to run the gamut of emotions and release them in a way that helps you to cope
4) In order to cope, keep a journal about what you’re feeling, talk to a therapist or join a support group
5) Remember, everything that you feel is normal; everyone reacts differently to stressful situations!
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