PKD Life - Winter 2020 - 10

Ages & Stages

CAREGIVING

5 ways you can
nurture yourself.
By Andrea Atkins

GRAB SOME ZZZ'S:
Worry often robs your
sleep, so catch up when
you can. "If I can lay down
and take a 10-minute
nap, then I'll do it!" says
Linda Herman, 52, of
Camas, Washington.

you're the caregiver to
W hen
someone with PKD, you may

feel out of control, exhausted, and
constantly worried. These normal reactions, if not addressed,
can lead to burnout, a common
caregiver condition whose hallmarks are fatigue, stress, anxiety,
and depression.
You cannot avoid the fear and
responsibilities that come with
this diagnosis, but there are ways
to ensure that you keep your own
physical and mental health in
good shape so you can keep delivering good care.
Here are some tips for avoiding burnout from two caregivers
who've been there:

10

PKD LIFE * WINTER 2020

HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR: After
Herman spent hours on the phone
dealing with HIPAA regulations that
made moving her husband's medical
records frustratingly difficult, she
thought to herself, "The people who
work in medical records should really
work for the Department of Homeland Security! They are tough!"
The humor cut the frustration, says
Herman, whose husband and 14-yearold daughter have PKD. "You just have
to joke about it," she says.

STAY EDUCATED AND GET
INVOLVED: Both Herman and Karl
are involved in local PKD Foundation
chapters. This helps them stay up on
the latest disease developments and
connects them with physicians who
know their stuff. It also links them
with other families who share
their experiences. "Being
involved helps me feel some
control," Karl says. "And it
definitely makes me feel less
alone with it."

READ AND
RESTORE: "I relax by
reading things that
are unrelated to the
disease," Karl says.
Herman does the
same thing.

*

GETTY/MORSA IMAGES

How to Avoid
Caregiver
Burnout

KEEP YOUR PERSPECTIVE:
Herman sees a therapist who helps
her check her outlook, whether that
is understanding that you cannot
beat yourself up if you are snacking
on KitKats for the third time this
week or recognizing that you are not
alone with your worry.
Michele Karl, 49, of White Plains,
New York, has three sons, two of
whom have PKD. "A big thing," she
says, "is to stay in the moment and
not worry so much about the future.
I have to remind myself of this every
single day." She gets acupuncture
treatments for self-care but also
finds that a book of affirmations
helps-"Let go, let God" is one of
her favorites.
PKD Life - Winter 2020

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