Who hasn’t seen the Blue Monday Sadness on the news, in the paper or on the radio or internet? Just what are we talking about here? Can we just rename SAD (Seasonal Affect Disorder) to Blue Monday Sadness (BMS)?
Personally it seems that SAD holds more bulk for me, after all I can be depressed and/or sad any day of the week with SAD, whereas with BMS (which could be a new bike by the way) I can only be sad and depressed on Monday. Please do not think I am making light of the situation, I am not. Knowing only too well about the fight to get out of bed and the overwhelming need to nap each time I sit down. And yes I realize the key here is Monday.
I grew up with Monday being the literal holiday of each week. Friday and Saturday were ‘party hardy’ and Sunday was church if you could sleep in the back pew and afternoon ZZZZs. Now people are finding ways to work (if they have a job) 4 day weeks, 10 hour days and telecommute. So I hear you wanting to know what does this have to do with caregiving.
Here’s what: No matter what else was happening in the home or the town or the nation the caregiver was there on duty and making sure the client or family member was safe and cared for. There was food to cook; washing to do, resources to look for, medication to order and the list goes on and on. Even when the loved one is in a care facility, there was still a need and (by the way there is still that need today) duty to meet caregiving needs.
Caregivers feel, whether expressed or not, an obligation to be there (be present) for our loved one no matter what their health is. And depression is one of the least diagnosed illnesses among caregivers today, and yet, we find the caregivers take the highest amount of prescription drugs for sleeping, headaches and, aches and pains. We need to acknowledge caregivers for all they do and all they take on even when they are not feeling up to it. Hug a caregiver today.
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