Summary: As a parent of a daughter with Schizoaffective Disorder, a son with speech/language delays, a partner with MS, and a father in the later stages of Alzheimer's not to mention I am dealing with CIDP, I can say that I have experienced caregiver burnout. According to WebMd, Caregiver burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that may be accompanied by a change in attitude -- from positive and caring to negative and unconcerned. Burnout can occur when caregivers don't get the help they need, or if they try to do more than they are able -- either physically or financially. Caregivers who are "burned out" may experience fatigue, stress, anxiety, and depression. Many caregivers also feel guilty if they spend time on themselves rather than on their ill or elderly loved ones. Today, LAPC Song James and acclaimed autor Marion D. Cohen will join me to talk about the very real challenges that caregivers face but no one wants to talk about. Marion Deutsche Cohen is the author of 23 books, prose and poetry. Besides the two well spouse memoirs, two most recent ones are CROSSING THE EQUAL SIGN, poetry about the experience of and her passion for math (from Plain View Press, TX) and PARABLES FOR A RAINY DAY (poetry chapbook from Green Fuse Press. She is well known in certain communities for her writings on bereaved parenthood, well-spouse-hood, and math. She teaches math and writing at Arcadia University (the old Beaver) in Glenside PA, where she has developed the course, Mathematics in Literature. Marion's latest spouse memoir: http://www.amazon.com/Still-End-Memoir-Nursing-Home-ebook/product-reviews/B00FEX2V9Q/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1 Link to a wonderful article on caregiver burnout: http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/thepulse/item/66876-caring-for-caregivers-when-their-lives-feel-a-bit-like-war-?linktype=dst_share
