Episode #206: When Being a Caregiver Means You’re Neglecting Yourself: Key Advice From A Palliative Medicine Physician

Today we’re diving into the challenges caregivers face and practical advice on how to care for others while also caring for your well-being. Whether you’re caring for an aging parent, an ill spouse, or a child with special needs, being a caregiver often leads to exhaustion and burnout. Joining me is Dr. Delia Chiaramonte, an integrative palliative care physician and host of The Integrative Palliative Podcast. Dr. Chiaramonte shares her personal story and offers strategies for setting boundaries, asking for help, and managing the emotional challenges of caregiving. Whether you’re a physician caring for a loved one or know someone in this position, this episode is full of invaluable insights.

In this episode we’re talking about:

The most common mistakes caregivers make and when to ask for help.
Dr. Chiaramonte’s personal journey as a caregiver and how it shaped her approach.
Practical steps for balancing caregiving with self-care.
The importance of setting boundaries and why it’s crucial to get help before reaching burnout.
Strategies for overcoming guilt, shame, and challenging emotions that may come up around caregiving.
Examples of how families can navigate caregiving challenges successfully.

Links for this episode:

www.integrativepalliative.com

www.CopingCourageously.com

🗓️ Starting November 13th, the Doctor’s Crossing Carpe Diem podcast will be moving to a bi-weekly schedule. There will be no new episode on November 6th, but we’re excited to continue bringing you inspiring and insightful content every other week starting November 13th. Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to sharing more episodes with you on this new schedule!

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Internal Medicine