Prescription drug addiction has become popular in the United States. Prescription drugs are being prescribed more and more for a variety of reasons, causing a greater chance of prescription drugs being misused. The most common class of prescription drugs being misused is opioids (Oxycontin), but there is a increasing problem with barbiturates like, and Klonopin. You may feel helpless while watching your loved one suffer from this horrible addiction. You may even feel frustrated, but you can help. There are many resources to help you cope, and help you love one concur this addiction.
• Step 1
The first step to helping your loved one suffering from you prescription medication is to determine if they have a addiction in the first place. Many people are mistaking for having a problem. Some people, like those suffering from a injury, or a chronic illness may come across as having a addiction because of the quantity of drugs they are prescribed. A good way to determine if somebody has a addiction is if there tolerance to the drug increases and the “up” the dose to get a “high”. This is a serious problem know as self-medicating, it can result in hospitalization or even death! Physical dependence is another way to know if your loved one has a prescription drug addiction. You will be able to tell if your loved one has a physical addiction by being aware of how they act when they don’t have their drugs. If they have addiction they will become physically ill, have mood swings, and become agitated. They will not be able to function or complete daily activities until they get the drug. Your loved one will not be able to quit taking the prescription drug on their own without the assistance of their doctor decreasing the dose or entering a detoxification center.
• Step 2
Now that you have determined that your loved one has a drug addiction, it is time to sit down for an intervention. This may sound ridiculous to you because of how Hollywood glamorized this step through various reality shows, but in reality this is a vital part to drug recovery. Gather family and friends that love and care for your loved one and express how you feel about their drug addiction. Tell them there options, and explain to them the consequences of not become drug free. For some drug attics it may even have to come to threatening to lose you as a friend, or family member. Just remember to explain how you feel, say everything, even if it breaks your heart. This will be difficult for everyone involved, but the intervention will help all parties understand factors of the addiction.
• Step 3
It’s then up to you and your loved one to decide how you will approach his/her addiction. There are many treatment programs for substance abuse, but some can be very pricey. For example in house treatment facility can be very expensive. Some insurance companies will pay for this. Call your insurance company, or the medicare office (If you have medicare) to find out what they cover. If you do not have insurance search on yellowpages.com for a substance abuse counseling center in your community or local area. They will be able to provide you the information needed for prescription addiction treatment. They should also have programs for free treatment.
• Step 4
The final and one of the most important factors to help your loved one suffering from prescription addition is to just be there. They will need lots of support, patience, and compassion during this time. This is an extremely hard process for both your loved one, and yourself. Be there as much as you can. They may try to push you away and resistant. But remember, without you they will not be able to complete their prescription drug recovery!
Take Care!
Coach Donna
Tags: caregiver, Chronic Illness, Disability, Loved Ones, Prescription Drugs, Substance Abuse
Not a New Resolutions but a Daily Resolution!
Each New Year brings a new pause in our lives; a time to reflect on unfulfilled dreams, expectations and uncompleted tasks. As a caregiver, there are so many up and downs; emotions running rampant at times, that often get the best of us. At times, we can find ourselves wondering why; we don’t have a caregiver for ourselves. What has happened to our own life or our identity?
It is interesting that many people use the holidays or the beginning of the New Year to measure one’s successes or failures. The coming of each New Year pushes forth a whole new list of resolutions.
In living a spiritual life, or the life of the Higher Power, there are no not-so-good days, nor some days or tomorrows. We only have the present moment… “NOW”.
Every day is a new day; and it is important to look freshly at each new day as an opportunity to awaken your consciousness more… to make choices that will enhance the quality of your life, well-being and well-balance for happiness to empower you, no matter what your circumstances may be.
Think of yourself as a light worker, bringing love and light in all you do. Caregivers can be likened to spiritual warriors with a tender heart filled with sadness. When you find yourself feeling low, depressed or negative, no one can change your attitude and feelings but you. Take a moment just to look where your thoughts have taken you today up till this very moment. Were they negative? Fearful? Positive? Loving? Inspiring? Only you know!
Even when a loved one’s near departure from this life, there is beauty surrounding us everywhere. How you choose to view it all is how your life shows up. Is the cup half full or half empty? The choice is yours.
So as you move into the coming year, choose to remain conscious and loving. Be mindful of your thoughts and feelings. Be mindful of how you relate to and treat others. Take responsibility for who you are and what you do. Do not worry about what the next person will think or say. And, do not seek their approval either. Take charge of your life. Dare to be your authentic self. Be free to express yourself with love in all aspects of your life as you were truly born to be. Be your Divine self… Remember, uDefine Caregiving.
May your light shine through you always….
Happy New Year,
Coach Donna
Tags: caregiving, happiness, New Year, resolutions, well-balance, well-being
It is often difficult to get my spouse in the spirit of spending time with family and friends outside our home. We would normally invite guest to our home, his comfort zone, where he is relaxed, he can take a quick nap and guest would understand, because of his health problems, he just might not be feeling good. This year my brother’s in-laws invited us to their home for the Thanksgiving holiday and of course I was elated, this means I could bring a dish and not do all the cooking. My husband’s immediate reaction was, NO, “let’s just stay home”. I explained that our family was planning to have the holiday at this in-laws home, and we would be spending the holiday alone. I realize this changes our usual norm of entertaining at home, but I strongly believe that getting out house and allowing someone else to be the host would be good for us this year. He thought about that was said and agreed. Although, his adjustment to his lower limb amputation has been slow, but steady, he is trying to get out the house more. And I realize that other health problems limits him from engaging in social interactions and activities he is often very sick, and constantly in the hospital. Normally, I would comply and cancel plans, because I don’t want to leave him to go off and have fun, but sometimes as a caregiver we need to take time for ourselves. A caregiver makes on-going sacrifices and usually puts their loved-ones needs first. “So you’re probably saying what about me”? It is important that you help your loved-one avoid falling into a rout, and to implement social activities into their routine. As my husband’s caregiver it is my responsibility to motivate him to engage in social activities outside the home, and to get out the house and not just watch television and not be active. This mindset will help him to live life to its fullest, despite his health concerns and avoid symptoms of depression, isolation, and limitations. However, this selflessness act helps me to stay connected with family and friends, to get out the house, enjoy good times with my husband, and to avoid resentment, anger, and frustration. Before his illness we enjoyed social activities and events together and to avoid being an enabler I have proposed to him that each month we engage in an activity that brings us well-balance and happiness. Thanksgiving turned out to be a wonderful event with family, my husband pushed himself by climbing many stairs which was an activity he had not done since his amputation. He even commented on having fun and spending the day with the family. My husband was happy that he decided to participate in the holiday, and I was elated that he was not sick and well enough to have some fun. The family was very happy to see him get out the house and enjoyed himself with lots of laughs and good times.
Happy Family Day!
Coach Donna
Tags: caregiver, happiness, holiday, husband, well-balance
Caregiving can sometimes be exhausting, frustrating and resentful, especially when your loved one depends on you for most everything. Your loved one reliance on you can sometimes become overwhelming that you find yourself putting their needs before your own. When this happens you can become an enabler to your loved one that inhibits them from doing for themselves which they could otherwise do if you were not available. For example: this applies to loved one’s who are mobile, they will stay in the bed all day and not eat, then when get home start complaining they are hungry, so instead of doing other pending things you are made to feel guilty for leaving them all day and drop what you were going to do to make them something to eat. There is absolutely no doubt that your spouse needs your support to get them through this difficult adjustment period, you both are learning about their strengths and capabilities. In the beginning of their rehabilitation you may have to handle many tasks, but over time they should be able to manage some task on their own. They will have gained enough physical strength to start assuming some manageable responsibilities. When your loved one starts walking with their prosthesis, and appears steady and comfortable wearing it, they should be encouraged to walk more often, and start doing and things for themselves. This eliminates them depending on you and they gain some and help them build upon their autonomy when you are not available or in close proximity. For example: You may be at work, the grocery store, or the hair salon, barber shop, and then what will they do?
As caregivers we must encourage, support and motivate our loved ones to make and achieve realistic goals towards their rehabilitation. This might mean working with them on their off days of physical or occupational therapy. Caregivers’, I am not saying to never again help nor do anything for your loved one, because their disability may require your assistance. Your love, encouragement and support will help them to understand the importance to strive towards being independent, and helps build their self-esteem which allows them to make strives to accomplish goals despite their disability. This self-sufficient process will not happen overnight and you loved one may get frustrated with rehabilitation process or maybe with you “don’t take it personal” they may experience frustration because of their limitations. Your support during and after their rehabilitation will encourage them and their resilience will help them to keep trying to achieve goals that builds their confidence to want a better quality-of-life which promotes well-balance in your relationship.
Take Care! Your Caregiver Coach
Coach Donna
Tags: caregiver coach, caregiving, enabler, encourger
On Twitter:
Tweet Chat on Thursday 11/19/09 at 2:00 P.M. Share your caregiver tips that works best for you. Go to http://tweetchat.com/ and use this hashtag: UdefineCaregiving.
Coach Donna
Tags: tips, Tweet Chat, Udefine Caregiving
November is National Family caregivers Month. This means 30 days of gratitude, appreciation and thanksgiving for you and all you do for your loved ones. Please read President Obama’s Proclamation - http://www.nfcacares.org/press_room/detail.cfm?num=141
Your Caregiver Coach
Tags: appreciation, caregivers month, gratitude, well-being
On April 6, 2009, I had received numerous messages on my cell phone, and the first message was from a nurse from the emergency room. The nurse left a message that I needed to contact her directly, and left a number to call at the emergency room. My first reaction was “oh God my son”. Immediately, I called the hospital, but the nurse had left, her shift was over, and tried explaining to the nurse on duty my situation, and asked if the call concerned my son. The nurse explained the information requested was confidential, and she could not give additional information. At this point I became a nervous wreck experiencing even more of a panic, anxiety, frustration and scared. Then other messages started to appear on my cell phone, a total of thirteen, now I am in a full mode panic. The first number listed on the phone was my son; I was sure relieved because this meant he was safe. He asked, where I had been, and that everyone was trying to call me all day, and then handed the phone to my brother who came to Boston from New York. I was surprised to hear his voice, he then told me that our youngest brother had suffered a level 5 aneurysm, and received a call from our mom, because he was not expect to survive. He told me that family and friends were starting to worry about me and thought I was in trouble, and a family friend was on the way to my home. Unfortunately, my office is located in the basement of an old and outdated State hospital and employees that work on that level are not able to receive calls on our cell phones. Apparently, no one had my office telephone number, and no one was at my home. I must have cried all the way to the hospital, it seemed like I could not get there fast enough, and when I arrived to the hospital I made sure family had all my contact numbers. My brother was on an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) his head was swollen, he had tubes in his head, nose, throat, catheter, etc… He stayed in ICU for two-weeks until he was stable and regained consciousness to be moved to another floor. Once he was stable enough he was relocated to a rehabilitation hospital that specialized in head trauma. The rehab provided the best care with round the clock nursing staff in his room to monitor his breathing. After several weeks he was taken off the breathing tube and was able to begin a daily regimen of therapy to help him regain speech, mobility and memory. The rehab doctors, and team put a discharge plan together that suggested he continue receiving around the clock care that meant he was not to be left alone under any circumstances. A home health aide employed to come to my mother’s home 3-days a week to assist with personal care, and he was to continue with physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy on an out-patient basis. After months of hard work and dedication he was discharge on September 2009. He moved back to our mother’s home, and she resumed the responsibility of his care and well-being. My brother would definitely get the best care with our mother, because of her nature of being a nurturing, loving, caring, sensitive, committed, and very responsible mother and woman. As his caregiver, she would make sure he takes his medications, take him to his doctors’ appointments, to get haircuts, personal care, arrange and provide his transportation, and get him to physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy. Although I have my hands full being a caregiver to my husband, my brother and I discussed our mother being an older caregiver, and we are concerned about her well-being. So we decided to help her prevent burnout, frustration and getting too overwhelmed with her new role as caregiver that we would alternate with care so she could travel, dine out with friends and maintain happiness. Overall, my brother has made significant improvements in walking and speech, there is still a concern about his memory and doctor’s report he may not recover fully, he still has a long road ahead, and the family is elated that he is alive. However, despite his disability with family support and encouragement he should live a well-balanced and happy life.
For those reading this Blog, please consider the following helpful suggestions:
• Make sure your family and friends have the appropriate
contact numbers in case of an emergency. “I even gave
some family members a few of my close friend’s telephone
number in case of an emergency”.
• Remember that the caregiver needs assistance, although
they may not ask. Please do not take NO for their answer!
• Volunteer your time to give the caregiver some “me time”.
• Talk to the person about their caregiver responsibilities.
Let them know you really care.
Let’s Redefine Caregiving!
Coach Donna
Tags: brain injury, cargiver, contact information, family, friends, well-being
As caregiver’s we take care our spouse’s needs, make them comfortable, provide support and motivation to keep their morale high. Then what happens when you develop health problems? Who takes care of you as you recover from surgery, or the flue? As women despite our health problems we are still expected to take care of responsibilities of caregiver. Through my recollection I remember learning how to be a caregiver at a very early age. In my parent’s home the women had specific responsibilities like caring for the home, cooking, making sure everyone needs was met. On the other hand, the men did outside work like taking out the trash, shoveling the snow, and raking the leaves. At 16 years old, my mother was hospitalized and I resumed my mother’s role as the cook, housekeeping, and take care of my younger brothers. So, what if you have a spouse with multiple health problems, you resume the role as caregiver, making sure their needs are met, and the function of your home by being the cook, keep account of all doctor’s appointments, paying bills, yard work, grocery shopping, and taking out the trash, deal with contractors, plumbers, and the electrician is now your responsibility to manage. What if you work full-time, have children or in school, there never enough hours in your day to manage these responsibilities, but your resilience help you to get things done. Any diversion like you getting sick can disrupt the flow and possibly adds friction may confront your relationship. A few months back I developed a serious health problem and was unable to move my arm, walk, and even breathe without some difficulty. My husband had just been discharge from the hospital and returned home. He needed my assistance and help, but I was not feeling good. I made several attempts to help but not successful, you could see the pain on my face. This was the first time not being able to help him and be the caregiver he had grown to depend on. He became frustrated and I reacted back with frustration. Later we discussed what happened, and he shared that he got scared with the thought of me getting sick, because he was only thinking about his own health, and never took into consideration that I could possibly get sick too. I then realized how much my husband depended on me as his caregiver, and he did not feel comfortable relying on someone else for help. From that day on the lines of our communication remained opened.
For Better or for Worse, You are Your Spouses Care Keeper!
Your Caregiver Coach/Life Coach
Coach Donna
Do you want to learn the secret to balance and avoiding burnout? Well, it begins with understanding your needs to happiness. It is important that you communicate to your spouse the importance of your well-being as their caregiver. As caregivers we often put our spouse’s needs first, and often neglect our health, happiness, balance and well-being. Caregivers’ you really have a choice in making your caregiving experience joyous and with fewer burdens. The key is to identify when you have feelings of being overwhelmed, anger, frustration, short-tempered, exhaustion, and lack of interest, limited social interaction, guilt, isolation, and do something about it! You see caregivers, Udefine your balance, well-being and happiness and if you choose not to start making yourself happy, all the feeling described above will have significance in your caregiving experience. You must change your misconception of the meaning of selfishness to selflessness and begin to apply this meaning to avoid losing yourself as the person who loves themselves, who enjoys having fun, and who lives life despite obstacles. Sometimes when caring for others, we can get consumed with their health issues, and gradually start to put aside the things that were once important to us. Maintaining your identity does not mean you are selfish or care less about the needs of your spouse. It means you have decided not to neglect your needs and not feel guilty for wanting to engage in activities, going out with friends or doing something that brings your happiness. Once you regain balance and well-being in your life, feeling happy feels good and Udefine you.
Start your journey to becoming a happier caregiver!
You’re Caregiver/Life Coach
Coach Donna
Tags: balance, caregiving, happiness, well-being
This past weekend, I was on my way to the hospital to pick-up my husband, and I started to think about how fortunate I was to have good health. I sometimes take having good health for granted, and neglect health issues that probably should be addressed when noticed. I get so consumed in my husband’s care, I admit to neglecting myself, until I can no longer ignore the health issue. Why do I do that? Why don’t I take my health care as serious as I take my husband’s? This means keeping my doctor’s appointments and not cancelling or rescheduling. I must admit with all my husband’s many doctors’ appointments it takes a toll on me and I tend to put my own needs on hold. This is because his health issues are more serious and life threatening and mine are easy to treat. I do realize that if I not healthy I will be no good to my husband and will not be able to provide adequate caregiving to him. If I continue neglecting my own care it could possibly be something more serious than I ever imagined. I have decided it is all about me! So today, I scheduled my yearly check-up, mammogram and gynecology appointments. It’s now my turn to take care of me to maintain good health. So I urge you to start taking care of you, it is your responsibility!
Caregiver take Care of Your Health,
Your Caregiver Coach
Donna Atherton
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