After a couple of particularly rough weeks for me, I've had a realization I would like to share. As I'm still struggling with those who abused and took advantage of my father and dealing with his shady lawyer, who I think should be disbarred, I found myself immersed in a sea of anger, rage, and frustration. It took me some time, but I've finally seen it; that state of spirit wasn't helping my father or me. Plus, I was sending tons of negative energy to the universe, and guess what I was getting back from it.  In this episode, I talk from my heart about how tough it was for me to go throu ..read more

After spending over 20 years in the Western medical field, working as a nursing and medical assistant specializing in cardiology and pulmonology, Sara Irena still wasn't delighted with what Western medicine offered. She began considering naturopathic medicine when a spider bit her. Unexpectedly, almost two years after the bite, her condition didn't get any better; she would drain the wound twice a day, she suffered from excruciating back pain and limping. The spider put her life on hold; when she got bit, Sara was getting ready for a pre-med program for medical anthropology.  A friend ca ..read more

Self-forgiveness and self-compassion are also forms of self-care; they will allow us to heal and, eventually, become better caregivers. Everything is energy, from our thoughts to the food we eat; everything emanates and absorbs energy, including the person we are taking care of and ourselves. If taking care of someone produces compassion fatigue, they will also feed on our negative energy, and we will harm them.  Today, we close a cycle; we go through the final part of my story, which started this journey, this crusade I'm committed to, to change the laws that protect the elderly. We exp ..read more

Although a lot has been written about compassion fatigue in the paramedic, nursing, first-time responder, or even veterinary industry, the issue has never been discussed amongst the unpaid, untrained caregivers collective. If prepared and well-trained professionals, supported by several organizations, suffer from this kind of mental exhaustion, how are informal caregivers supposed to cope with it?  In this episode, I share a bit more of my personal story and some details of the chaotic path that led me into experiencing compassion fatigue. We go from the text message that reconnected me ..read more

The plight of unpaid caregivers has been a relatively silent one. As the world experiences an ever-increasing aging population, the people behind the scenes providing support for those in need are often overlooked.   Statistics indicate that 30% of caregivers die before the one they care for. It’s time to shine the spotlight on these unsung heroes and recognize their contributions, their value, and their needs.   In the first episode of Caregivers Conversations, I’m diving in deep to help you gain a better understanding of the challenges caregivers face in today’s world. If you’re a ..read more