Any other young carers out there?

[L_1612]

Hello all,

I'm 29 and have been caring for my mum since I was around 7/8 years old. She has had three strokes, has psoriatic rheumatoid arthritis, is a T1 diabetic and has a few other conditions, which all in all makes for a very complicated situation. I have also had to give up work which has hit me hard.

I do find increasingly as though I am 'missing out' compared to my peers, but I feel like I'm betraying my mum even writing this, I have a lot of guilt I think when it comes to me putting myself first, even for a short period of time. I don't have any family that can help or even live nearby, I was brought up I'm a single parent family so have always carried the load in the caring respect so to speak.

Would be lovely to chat to any other people of a similar age in a caring role!

Lucy

[David_17121]

Hi Lucy, nice to meet you and hello to anyone else knocking about.! Am new to this forum and Lucy, I can empathise with your situation, particularly the guilt issue. I too have had to give up my job to be a full time carer for my dad. It is definitely hard going from getting out and going to work every day, getting out with friends etc to effectively being home bound particularly when you are in your early 30's or late 20's like yourself.

Not sure how I feel about this whole online forum thing, but like you say, think it's helpful to meet and talk to people going through a similar experience.

Ta, David

[bowlingbun]

David, welcome to the forum. Were you told about any other alternatives to giving up work?

[Melly1]

Hi David,
Welcome to the forum. It took me awhile to post on the forum initially too. I don't use my real name nor my caree's. Caring is tough and only other carers understand what it is really like. On here you don't have to say everything is wonderful if it isn't and folk won't judge you for that.

I recommend when you feel ready you post an intro on the New to the Forum thread as more folk read that one and will welcome you there.

Melly1

[Vanessa_1712]

Hi everyone

I’m Vanessa and i’m 27 years old.

I’ll be 28 in June 2018

I’ve been a carer for three years now.

I cared for my Terminally ill Mum from April 2015 til July 2015. Sadly she passed away in July 2015

In August 2015 a few days after my mum’s funeral, my dad took an overdose and nearly died.

In November 2016 my dad had problems with his heart and lungs after quitting smoking in August 2016.

In October 2017 my dad was diagnosed with incurable COPD

[Angelina_1712]

Hi, i've just joined the forums. I'm 29 years-old and help care for my partners mum. She has vascular dementia and was diagnosed a few weeks ago. He is officially her carer. I moved to Dorset last year to be with him. I'm originally from London. I feel strained and stressed with it and it's difficult living here in this situation as her moods are difficult for me to cope with. I have my own issues and they include social anxiety, general anxiety disorder, mild CFS and aspergers syndrome. Are there any other young carers on here from Dorset or the Bournemouth area?