If we have a spouse who's sick, or a parent or child for that matter, we can often feel pressure and responsibility to focus on being a caregiver, and forgo caring for ourselves. This is what happened to me back in 2018.
In this episode I talk about my wife's health issues and how I nearly fell apart until I realized my own self care was a critically important thing I needed to practice. Why? Because if I wasn't OK, how could I possibly take good care of my wife, kids, or clients?
In addition to sharing some of the challenges and emotions I've faced, I also talk about the self-care strategies I've developed over the years. Feel free to try what I've done, or develop strategies of your own. Either way, my goal in sharing is to help you get to a better place than you're currently in — and to let you know that you are not alone.
When we're the caregiver for a loved one, "sucking it up," and just "dealing with it," are philosophies that have no place. They don't work, and they don't address our needs, feelings and mental health — which are important, too!
Some of the MANAGEABLE, SUSTAINABLE strategies I talk about are:
- Meditation
- Mindfulness
- Acceptance
- Exercise
- Joining a mens' group
- Seeing a qualified therapist
I hope the episode helps, and I wish you and your loved one well.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Male Room with Dr. Jesse Mills
As Director of The Men’s Clinic at UCLA, Dr. Jesse Mills has spent his career helping men understand their bodies, their hormones, and their health. Now he’s bringing that expertise to The Male Room — a podcast where data-driven medicine meets common sense. Each episode separates fact from hype, science from snake oil, and gives men the tools to live longer, stronger, and happier lives. With candor, humor, and real-world experience from the exam room and the operating room, Dr. Mills breaks down the latest health headlines, dissects trends, and explains what actually works — and what doesn’t. Smart, straightforward, and entertaining, The Male Room is the show that helps men take charge of their health without the jargon.