0:00Emma Heming Willis on coping with caregiver guilt
0:00I really think when it comes to guilt,
0:02it's really important for caregivers to connect
0:06to their community.
0:07Find the organization that is connected
0:11to their person's disease.
0:13Like, for me, FTD,
0:15there is an organization called the Association for
0:18Frontotemporal Degeneration.
0:20And there they have support groups.
0:22And there is really a place where you can talk,
0:27and you could talk openly,
0:29and no one's going to judge you.
0:31And you can talk about your guilt,
0:33and there's going to be another caregiver in there
0:35who's dealt with that guilt before,
0:37and is going to be able to
0:38tell you "it's OK," or "I understand,"
0:41or "I hear what you're saying."
0:42Instead of you just living in your head,
0:45because caregiving is so isolating.
0:47You're just living in your head,
0:50and having all these judgments,
0:52and this negative narrative.
0:55It's just important
0:56then to start talking to someone else.
0:59Someone else that understands
1:01what you're going through,
1:02can relate to what you're going through.
1:05I didn't realize that other people felt the same.
1:07I didn't realize that other people felt guilt,
1:09shame, anger.
1:10I didn't know any of that.
1:11But that's why I want to tell someone else
1:14find a support group.
1:16Social media is such a great place to find
1:19connection as well.
1:20If you feel comfortable, put a post out.
1:23"I'm looking for another family
1:26that I can connect with."
1:27I just think community and communication
1:30is very important for caregivers.
