In this episode, Brian and Robert switch roles. Robert is the host and asks Brian about his duties and responsibilities. Great information for caregivers, and a funny, lighthearted moment between father and son.
Highlights and Takeaways from the Podcast:
- As a father, my role as a caregiver for you started the day you were born. When you had your mental break, that’s when my role as a caregiver changed in ways I never could have imagined.
- If someone you love is struggling with mental illness, the best thing you can do is learn to sit on their side of the table when it comes to talking about what’s wrong.
- I made a lot of mistakes as a parent and caregiver. There is no preparation, no playbook to follow when a mental break happens to one of your kids. The world, as we knew it, was flipped completely upside down. We thought it would last six months. It’s now almost nine years and counting.
Caregivers should keep journals. It’s impossible to remember when things happened or what was said, especially in chaotic moments. A journal can help put pieces of the puzzle together. It also helps when meeting new doctors so that they don’t have to start from square one. You should also have a list of all prescriptions and hospitalizations to save them time.
From Robert’s initial mental break to today, I went from deep grief to incredible gratitude. What started out as Oh my God, what’s happened to my son? Is now, God, Thank You for giving us the strength, and Robert the courage, to endure and enjoy the silver linings. We now appreciate every day!
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