Young Life Interrupted - A Podcast For Young Caregivers

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"

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"

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"

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"

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.   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/younglifeinterrupted

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/younglifeinterrupted

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/younglifeinterrupted

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/younglifeinterrupted

How do you find compassion for yourself during your care journey as it relates to your mental health, while trying to navigate boundaries, self-care, personal identity and stress? My guest today is Stephanie Muskat, a young caregiver, mom of 3, registered clinical social worker and psychotherapist.  She is also the Founder & CEO of Compassion in Caregiving, an all-encompassing mental health community for caregivers supporting those looking for support in caring for others.  Stephanie knows first-hand the complexities of falling into caregiving.  In 2009 she became the primary caregiver for her mom who was later diagnosed with early onset FTD and was caring for her grandmother with Alzheimer's.   Now she helps other caregivers through the process of managing their physical and emotional health to support them in maintaining their connection to self and important aspects of their lives. Where to connect with Stephanie:On the web: https://www.compassionincaregiving.com/On Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/compassionincaregivingWhere 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

When you care for a loved one, one of the hardest parts of the journey is watching them transform before your eyes.   They don't look the same, they don't act the same and oftentimes you wish you could get the "old version" of them back.   The activities and rituals that were once bonding time for the two of you no longer exist.  The ways you would interact and connect with each other, a thing of the past.   BUT they are still here.  They are still living and breathing, and no they are not the person they used to be but instead a new version of themselves. It's hard to embrace this "new version" but it's an absolute MUST to work towards living in the present with them versus reflecting on the past.  Though quality time looks very different, there are still ways to connect with your loved one in the time they are still here - they just look different than the ways you connected before.  In today's episode I share one of my biggest regrets in caregiving, something I wish I would have acknowledged much sooner along with tips on ways to maintain that connection, that quality time, with your loved one that will still create lasting memories for you in the future.  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/younglifeinterrupted

If you are tuned into this episode, you are more than likely not only caring for your loved one but in tandem acting as their advocate, crusader and voice aka their patient advocate. Taking on the role of a patient advocate means there is a lot of important and challenging work to be done.  And all for good reason – you want your loved one to get the best care possible.  But how does one person accomplish all of this and stay sane as yet this is another hat we have to wear on the daily? Meet Erin Galyean a former young caregiver and published author of Badass Advocate: Becoming the Champion Your Loved One Deserves.  Badass Advocate, an information-packed and action-oriented book, teaches family caregivers how to lead the charge when dealing with a loved one's health crisis. After losing her father, Mike, to Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Erin was determined to be an unstoppable advocate for her sister, Meghan who was also diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and a rare lung disease. With over 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Erin was able to use her professional knowledge to ensure her sister received the best care.  Today, Erin shares her heartbreaking life events and the lessons she learned along with some tips on how you can make a difference in your loved one's healthcare experience. Where to connect with Erin:On the web: https://badassadvocate.com/On Instagram - https://www.badassadvocate/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/younglifeinterrupted

I know, and you know, that when you begin to care for a family member, you can feel like you've entered a foreign country where you don't speak the language or understand the customs.  You don't know what is right in front of you or where this journey will take you.  I think what we all want, more than anything is an understanding of how to navigate the total caregiving experience.  In this episode I dive into a topic I learned about, back in 2017 when I was training to become a Certified Caregiving Consultant and that is the concept of The Caregiving Years, developed by a former caregiving mentor, Denise M. Brown,  that she has turned into a book, The Caregiving Years.   While other books focus on your family member or friend who needs your help and care, this book focuses just on you and what you need to manage the experience of caregiving.  The book categorizes caregiving into six stages, from when you first worry that a family member needs care to after caregiving ends.  The stages Denise has identified help you answer these questions: Why me? Why now? What now? so you can focus on what YOU need to manage the experience of caregiving.   The book also offers tips to help you navigate the bad days, the difficult decisions and the overwhelming emotions. Because caregiving can be such a complicated experience, I share Denise's simple coping strategies, wrapped in a keyword and a purpose, along with an action plan she lays out to help guide you through each stage of the caregiving years.  After listening to the episode, my goal is to help you understand where you currently are and where you are headed in your caregiving journey.  I also want to provide a realistic perspective of caregiving while showing that you will make it through and be better for it.  I know I am after my 10-year care journey. If you are interested in reading more about the The Caregiving Years, you can find Denise's book on Amazon here.  And if you want to learn how to become more empowered during your caregiving experienceand learn how to transform it into your next opportunities, click here to learn more about Denise's The Caregiving Years Training Academy. 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/younglifeinterrupted

Having found the love of my life after 38 years, (and getting married to in April), I couldn't imagine what wrench life would have thrown into the mix, and wedding planning process, if he would have received an initial terminal cancer diagnosis before we were even married.  My guest today, Ashley Jackson, became a full time caregiver to her husband after he was diagnosed with a rare cancer in stage 4, then beat that cancer with a 35% chance of survival.  Ashley talks about planning a wedding in the midst of not even knowing if her fiancee would make it to walk her down the aisle, her decision to stay by his side and respect the marriage timeline he laid out and how they continue to  persevere through the greatest challenge of their relationship.  Ashley is not only a wife and a young caregiver, but also the author of Lost Travel Found and an event planner.   Her company, Timeless Dream Events, was born out of her pain and its mission and vision is to provide terminally ill people and their family members with a “timeless dream event” that will celebrate life and love. She plans various events, at minimal notice due to each unique and sensitive situation. You can find Ashley at www.timelessdreamevents.com and on the other platforms listed below: FB: www.facebook.com/timelessdreameventsIG: www.instagram.com/timelessdreamevents/TikTok: @timelessdreameventsWhere 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

Too many times, we feel all alone in caregiving.  Friends, who were once always there for us, have often faded away, and even those who are still there just don't get it because they've never been there.   People we once felt comfortable sharing anything and everything with now seem like strangers in a lot of ways as connection points seem to grow further apart and we don't feel comfortable sharing all of the intimate details of what a day in the life of being a caregiver is like.  It's not surprising that our friends struggle to understand what is happening and in turn, we as caregivers struggle to find the time it takes to maintain our friendships. The end result is that too many caregivers become increasingly isolated and cut off from the very emotional support they most need.If you have friends you've lost, through your care journey, or have friends who really want to be there to support you , but just don't know how, this episode is for you and I hope you'll share it with them.  Our friendships are our most precious resource so perhaps let's help them understand a bit more the best things they can do to support us.  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/younglifeinterrupted

If you could go to sleep tonight and wake up no longer needing to care for a loved one. Would you choose that? Or keep caring for them because you would feel lost?  It's this question that prompted this podcast episode and launched me into exploring the emotional side of caregiving.  Whether you become a caregiver over time or all of sudden due to a crisis, or whether you are a caregiver willingly or by default, many emotions surface when you take on the job of caregiving. Some of these feelings happen right away and some don't surface until you have been caregiving for awhile. Many feelings come up when you are caring for someone day in and day out. Many caregivers set out saying, “This won't happen to me. I love my [inset loved one] but after awhile, the “negative” emotions that we tend to want to bury or pretend we aren't feeling come up. Caregivers are often reluctant to express these negative feelings for fear they will be judged by others (or judge themselves) or don't want to burden others with their problems. During this episode I review some of the feelings that come with being a caregiver & some coping mechanisms you may want to try to implement as you work towards balancing the emotional side of caregiving as the emotions are many and they all hit you at different times, sometimes harder than the other.  But if you are prepared with some ammunition in your pocket to help you work through and process them, it will help you show better not only as a caregiver, but for yourself.  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/younglifeinterrupted

Love - it's one of the biggest life milestones many people wait for their whole lives to find and when you find it, you can't help but envision all of the things you'll do together and the exciting life that will unfold.  But imagine finding "your person" and then your whole world is turned upside down as they suffer a devastating injury before you're even married - do you stay, do you go or does love rise above it all? My guest today, Rachel Davis, at the age of 30, became a full time caregiver to her husband Jay who suffered a spinal cord injury in a plane crash. Rachel talks about her decision to stay by Jay's side after his accident, how they continue to  persevere through the greatest challenge of their relationship and how falling into caregiving for a spouse at a young age has motivated her towards purpose.  Because "caregiver" is just part of our identity, Rachel is also a mom to a flock of hens, two cats and personally trained her husband's service dog, Charlie.  She is an amatuer painter and also a volunteer and retreat leader for the No Barriers Caregivers program.You can find Rachel on Instagram at  @Rmblu and for more information about No Barriers USA, and the caregiver retreats she talks about visit: For caregivers: https://nobarriersusa.org/caregivers/For Retreats: https://nobarriersusa.org/caregivers-retreatWhere 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

Happy New Year (and 1 month) and welcome back!! Your timeline is not your own and not to be compared.  In fact, in my opinion is you should take your timeline, you know that plan with those dates where you are trying to do this and that by then and...chuck it.    Why even bother having a timeline when things, in your caregiving role, change at the drop of a hat? Timelines can be just as toxic as social media when we are in a bad place or going through a rough time  - I got rid of mine so this is just a gentle reminder to get rid of yours - because you know what everyone will work out when it's meant to.  Whether you are brand new to caregiving or seasoned this episode will walk you through  some of the learning's & encouragement that things not happening on your timeline are OK.  The hope is that you can take some of these golden nuggets and apply them to your care journey - to help make things a bit easier to navigate, to help better prepare you for what's to come and most of all to help you see that you are not alone in the overwhelm, confusion and isolation you are experiencing. 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/younglifeinterrupted

It's like anything in life right when you look back at situations - be it personal or career - there are so many things you would do over if only you knew then what you know now.  And that is what this episode is all about.   Whether you are brand new to caregiving or seasoned this episode will walk you through  some of the learning's & wisdom myself, and other young caregivers provide.  The hope is that you can take some of these golden nuggets and apply them to your care journey - to help make things a bit easier to navigate, to help better prepare you for what's to come and most of all to help you see that you are not alone in the overwhelm, confusion and isolation you are experiencing.  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/younglifeinterrupted

Dating - that six letter word that can be a bit dreadful caregiving or otherwise, but while caregiving, dating, meeting your person and moving into that life milestone seems next to impossible if you are single when your care journey begins.Even if you ARE up for the challenge you probably think, I don't even have the time/energy to put into dating - when I actually have some time I just want it for ME to do nothing and binge Netflix to decompress or the understanding you can never really plan spontaneous dates.  And if you ARE in a relationship, will they understand?  Will they run because they know that things will only continue to get worse and your care responsibilities harder? It's a very special episode as I have my first guest on, my fiancee Ian.  Ian and I talk about dating as a caregiver, how timing is really everything and why you shouldn't give up hope if one of your life dreams is to find a partner in crime. 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/younglifeinterrupted

Oh the things we think as a caregiver but dare not say them out loud - do you have some ideas of what those things are?  You know the thoughts of resentment, wondering why you are in this situation, that you don't want to be a caregiver and how long is this really going to last because you're ready to get back to your life.  Yup - all of those "horrible/selfish" things we tell ourselves we can't say out loud but consume our thoughts on the daily.  But why DON'T we say these things out loud?  Why are we afraid to or just haven't?  Tune in to see why you aren't alone in your thinking and understand why we need to start saying the things rather than keeping them bottled up. Don't forget to join me in my free Facebook group,  Young Life Interrupted.  This is a private community of young caregivers, just like you, where we share stories, vent, celebrate the small wins and come together in community and support.  I would really love to see you in there!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/younglifeinterruptedEpisode is LivePublished: Sep. 13, 2021 @ 2PM EditUnpublishAdd Chapter MarkersListeners can tap through & see what's coming up.Visual Soundbite AvailableSquare Soundbite - 0:44Great for Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.Download SoundbiteDelete this Soundbite and create a new one.Share Episode OnFacebookTwitterLinkedInMore OptionsEmail Link to EpisodeCopyDirect Link to MP3CopyDownload MP3Embed this ONE EpisodeView Episode Stats

When I heard the term 'anticipatory grief' AFTER my Mom passed away, it was a game changer for fully understanding all of the emotional ups and downs I had experienced in my care journey.   Have you ever heard of the term?  In this episode I share how I came to better understand anticipatory grief - what it looks like and when you experience it, and also, if you are currently in your care journey, facing anticipatory grief cycles, some ways you can try to work through your feelings. Don't forget to join me in my free Facebook group,  Young Life Interrupted.  This is a private community of young caregivers, just like you, where we share stories, vent, celebrate the small wins and come together in community and support.  I would really love to see you in there!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/younglifeinterrupted

This is a special episode where I'm honoring the 1-year anniversary of the passing of my mom.  I didn't have any sort of service or celebration of life when she passed away last year.  I said I would do it on her birthday, September 22, but the day came and passed, then I said, well maybe something at the holidays… nothing.  So when launching the podcast this month, I said to myself, what better way than to honor my mom than to share, with all of you, a special episode where I reflect on what was happening at this time last year, my amazing mom and the first year of life after losing her.  Mom - this is my memorial to you

Do you ever feel like you're missing out on life as a young caregiver? Do you feel like no other friends are going through what you are & have a solid lack of support; that you don't have a future in dating or starting your own family, a hard time maintaining personal and social relationships with others? By engaging with lots of young caregivers over the past few years, the #1 common theme I hear is that they feel isolated because no one their age or friends in their circle really get them.  But guess what you are not alone.Do you recall that moment when you made a connection with another young caregiver that made your world shift a little for the better?  This episode shares how I started connecting with other young caregivers and how crucial it was to making me feel like I was not the only one going through this journey. How having a young caregiver support group saved meHow knowing I wasn't alone saved meHow knowing I had a place to turn to when I was feeling at my very lowest saved me; because even though I couldn't reach out and touch the person, sit with them over coffee or have a few drinks, or even know what they looked like or their voice sounded like - their words were like the blanket of warm comfort and reassurance that everything would be ok. I hope after listening to this episode you'll walk away knowing your season of loneliness is coming to a close and that you have support and community at your fingertips.  

Do you self-identify as a caregiver?  Or do you just consider yourself a dedicated son/daughter/partner/grandchild/friend?  To be perfectly honest,  it took me awhile to.  After all, a caregiver is someone in their 50's, 60's, 70's not a thriving early 30-something! At the beginning, I just thought well I'm her daughter, her only child, so this is what I will do to help my Mom - plain and simple - she was always there for me - dedicated everything to me - so it was only natural I would be there for her.   Can you relate?  After finally digging into some research and putting two words together I never thought I would, young + caregiver I went through a period of grappling with this newfound identity. I clearly recall when I, as I like to say, came out of the caregiving closet - I was immersing myself in doing research on caregivers, looking for support groups and resources for young caregivers and starting to make some connections.  Maybe it was the Universe saying - wow - how many times did I have to knock you upside the head to get you to finally acknowledge your reality.  But guess what - coming out of the caregiver closet, finally self-identifying as a caregiver, is exactly what I needed and I don't doubt it will be one of the best things you'll ever do in your journey too. No you can't change the realities of your caregiving situation - you can't undo a disease, push pause on time or have a million dollars fall from the sky to help support you financially - but you can serve yourself, you can talk about it, you can say loud and proud - “hey I'm a caregiver - yeah it f'ing sucks - I didn't ask for this, I didn't think I can handle it, but I'm here, I need support and I'm ready to come out of the caregiver closet too. Don't forget to join me in my free Facebook group,  Young Life Interrupted.  This is a private community of young caregivers, just like you, where we share stories, vent, celebrate the small wins and come together in community and support.  I would really love to see you in there!Where we can connect:Join the Young Life Interrupted Facebook groupSubscribe 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

I am so excited because I am close to opening the doors to the Young Life Interrupted podcast and wanted to give you a taste of what's to come!  This has been a project lingering in the back of my mind for quite sometime, probably too long, so I'm pumped to see it out in the world.  If we haven't met yet, I'm Adrienne Glusman a change maker and professional speaker on the topic of Millennial Caregiving and former caregiver (10 years) to my mom who battled Multiple System Atrophy.   I have a true passion for supporting young caregivers and this podcast will be a way for me to reach more of you by sharing my story and the stories of others to help you see a path forward, feel less isolation and overwhelm and find community and connection to support you through every step of your care journey!   Tune in to today's episode for a glimpse into my story and care journey and to hear what this podcast is all about.  If you are a 20-40 something caregiver caring for a partner, parent, grandparent, family member of friend & you're saying to yourself - yes I don't even know which way to turn or how to manage all the things - I'm so overwhelmed or I don't want to be a young caregiver but here I am and I'm going to make the most of it and do the best I can with the cards I've been dealt and finally connect with others who totally GET me because they are going through, or have been on this same journey, then this is the podcast for you.   Be sure to tune in and subscribe to the show so you can join me here, week after week!  Don't forget to join me in my free Facebook group,  Young Life Interrupted.  This is a private community of young caregivers, just like you, where we share stories, vent, celebrate the small wins and come together in community and support.  I would really love to see you in there! Where we can connect: Join the Young Life Interrupted Facebook group Connect with Adrienne on Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/younglifeinterruptedFollow Adrienne on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/younglifeinterrupted