Is this constant "exhaustion" common and does it go away?

I think constant exhaustion is very, very common if not endemic to caregiving. It varies by situation, but I think (and I'm certainly not an authority) that it's a facet of every caregiver's life.

I think also that anger and resentment as well as feeling trapped and sucked into a powerful vortex of emotions is also common.

Insomnia is another aspect, except when one is so exhausted that sleep comes automatically. Although you didn't mention declining caregiver health, I think that's another negative byproduct of caregiving.

Does it ever go away? In my experience, only after the cared for one has died, but then the self-examination, self recrimination, questioning, and grief exhaustion set in .... like a fog creeping over and clouding visions of everything. Or if help is brought in and the caregiver can get some relief.

As to why the exhaustion occurs? My uneducated opinion is that it's a situation in which there are rarely good options, sometimes no clear cut answers, accompanied by intense emotions, personal, financial and career conflicts... it unique but very, very complex.

It's not like many facets of life - your car breaks down, take it to a mechanic and it gets fixed. Same with electrical, plumbing and house problems. There can be a few different repair options for house problems, but they're definable and will produce results although not always the optimum ones. Still, they're fixable problems. And if they're fixed, they don't get worse.

That's not true of caregiving; typically decline is part of the process. For those at the end stage of their lives, their health issues generally can't be reversed to make their situation better.

To get past the exhaustion, I've tried to find ways that others could help, how the travel could be minimized, how chores could be done by others, but most of all how to deal with the changing and puzzling behavior, and how to control my irritation so I don't blow up.

In my situation, Meals on Wheels as well as help from neighbors and friends have made the biggest difference. MOW has eliminated having to cook and take meals 27 miles to my father's home, as well as some of the grocery shopping. The friends provide "eyes on the ground" in the event something happens; they bring over food, have mowed the lawn, planted flowers, done house repair work and taken Dad out for dinner.

I can rest more easily when I know he's in capable hands.

I haven't found a solution for making the medical visits any less tedious and monotonous even though I read gardening magazines while I'm waiting for doctors. Nor have I found a solution for the anxiety of worrying every time my father goes for a walk (after 2 falls and 2 hip fractures), or the possibility that he'll fall again this year. It's this anxiety that I really find hard to address. I also went through it when my sister died of cancer.

The other thing I've done which would probably horrify a nice tidy person is that I've re-prioritized, with housework taking a lower priority. When I'm tired, it's more important to get rest than to dust.

I also set aside time for myself, to listen to music, practice piano, garden, and soon I want to begin drawing again. Even 1/2 hour of respite helps, because it refocuses my brain and recharges it. Music is especially helpful.

As to a narcissitic parent, I don't really have that experience, but I think that the behavior isn't going to change and this is one of those aspects for which the caregiver has to develop a rhinocerous skin (tough and waterproof) and rhinocerous relaxation (just go wallowo in the water or whatever and forget about everything, even the crocodiles). Easier said than done, yes, as Yoda might say.

For myself I am mentally exhausted which in turn makes me physically exhausted and here my parents don't even live with me.... they are down the street from me. Just taking my parents to doctor's appointment makes me tired, and lot of it is resentment because when my parents were my age they were enjoying retirement.

Even a short visit to their home is tiring, mainly because of the 80-85 degree heat. Can't they open a window once in awhile to get some fresh air???

And like GardenArtist had said, her housework takes a lower priority, same here.... Martha Stewart has left the building !!!

I have to keep telling myself that my parents are adults with reasonably sound minds... and whatever they refuse to do for themselves, that is their choice, not mine so not to feed into them needing help.

Patilee you made a telling Freudian slip in describing yourself as a POW (Prisoner of War) instead of POA (Power of Attorney). It sounds like you do feel like a prisoner of war.

I agree with setting boundaries and limiting the time you spend with/on your mom. I am amazed sometimes at how mentally exhausted I am when I come from my mom's place - and she's very appreciative of what I do. I walk in the door at my place and literally drop everything and have to sit down until I feel more energetic. And that's after spending an hour with my mom, making her breakfast and lunch. But at the same time, I'm checking her refrigerator to see how/what she's eating. I'm getting the garbage and recycling to take out. I'm looking at her foot to make sure it's OK. I'm explaining for the 20th time what's wrong with her foot and why she must exercise. I'm watering the plant. I'm leaving notes on the food I leave her. I'm checking her dirty clothes hamper and trying to carry on a conversation with her while I'm there. So I'm operating at peak mental capacity for that hour - trying to think ahead to what she might want/need/do. And you may be doing the same when you're with your mom and away.

I have found that physical exertion through exercise has helped me enormously. It's a different kind of exhaustion, but one that is soul-satisfying. So find something that satisfies your deepest emotional needs and you'll be better able to cope.

I love the Freudian acronym - thanks for spotting that one, Blannie!

Patilee, you say "She is an empty bucket that can't be filled and I know this but it doesnt seem to help my exhaustion and that of my siblings." For me, getting past just acknowledging that point to acting on it is the key thing.

I have a beloved SIL who does this. She believes, even though she knows it's unreasonable, that if she only tries hard enough, works hard enough, thinks about nothing else and waits for that eureka moment… then her mother will be happy.

Whatever 'happy' means, in that context.

It's a fantasy. So somehow, you and your siblings need to switch your attention from the impossible end goal - mother's happiness - to deciding what reasonable contribution each of you can make. Or, to use your apposite turn of phrase, focus on how much you each want to put in the bucket rather than how full the bucket gets.

Hm. I'm reluctant to criticise any ALF, knowing only too well how hard falls are to prevent completely, but I have to say that four pretty major fractures in 10 months… that's not a great record, is it. I hope she's getting her money's worth of care where she is. Does she have osteoporosis? Any other conditions apart from her moderate dementia? I wonder if it might be time to think about stepping up the level of support.

I'm sure you and siblings have also considered this important point: that the more you flutter around her, the less incentive she has to connect with her peers and the staff at the ALF. Honest, you're doing her no favours socially.

As for how you switch off in between times… Ah, well now. I dropped my mother off for a week's respite care this afternoon. So WHY, you may ask, am I here on the forum instead of down the pub with a freshly-drawn pint of ale in my hand?

Last orders in 17 minutes. Best of luck! - keep us posted.

I think it is similar to being on "high alert" all of the time, as one never knows when there will be an emergency; a fall in the home, a stroke, a visit to the ER. In addition, it is especially hard if you have a narcissistic parent. I think moods are contagious, and my mother is in a bad mood most of the time, and she is also a constant complainer. It is very draining being around negative people, and exhaustion is the unfortunate result. I wish I had an answer for you about exhaustion, as I myself, wake up tired about two or three days a week. The days when I wake up refreshed, obviously, those are better days. In addition, exercise, eating well, and cutting back/eliminating caffeine can help.

Just wanted to give you my support, and I am exhausted too! The above reasons make sense to me! Hugs

(((((((Pati)))))) I know the feeling. Have you been checked for Chronic fatigue? I have had it for years and have sessions of being exhausted. I have read it is more common in people with narcissistic mothers/parents. I think one factor is that you are always waiting for the other shoe to drop. I have a narc sister too, so even now, when mother is safely placed in a hospital, and the social worker understands that I deal at arm's length (for my own survival), I have the tension of what will my sis do next. Since you are thinking of your mum day and night, it sounds like you need to detach and focus more on you, things you like, that are good for you and so on. Do you have any goals for yourself, hobbies, fun things to plan, outings?? We are groomed by our negative parent to focus on making them happy - the impossible task, serving them, jumping at their every whim...

There are a number of good sites on the internet for detaching with love. Melody Beattie and others have written good books. One essential is to "Shift Your Focus from Controlling Your Loved One's Behavior to Creating Your Own Happiness". You can't make anyone happy except yourself. So start making the "thought" habit of focussing on you rather than on your mother. It is possible to change thought habits like any other habit. Determine to think about something positive, develop an "attitude of gratitude", Plan something good for you each day - even something very small. I have found that I need periods of what I call "extreme self care", when I reach bottom. Then I focus on me and what I need - like a proper diet, rest, relaxation, moderate exercise, socialization, brain activity - crossword puzzles , computer games, a good book, gardening, getting out in nature I try to build these into my life anyway, but at times decide to banish all concerns about mother and sister - not easy I know, but you can work on it, and think about/ focus on my needs. Think about things that uplift you. Basically, I think you are in a habit of worrying. I know I can get that way too.

“When we hate (I will add fear) our enemies, we are giving them power over us: power over our sleep, our appetites, our blood pressure, our health, and our happiness.” ― Dale Carnegie, How to Stop Worrying and Start Living

My sig other is away this week, so I am choosing to focus on me. and what feels good for me. Me worrying about my mother and sister is not going to change them or the circumstances, it s only going to drag me down, I am letting it go for now, I can always start worrying again next week if I want to, lol

Accept that your mum will always be a complainer and unhappy and it is not your job to change that. In fact, you can't. I know the trapped feeing, and as I am coming up 77 and my mother is 102, I have had to find ways to get out from under it. This has gone on too long and may continue for a while yet. So, as they say, "get a life" and I don't mean that unkindly. Dust off some goals from the past and start working on them. Do good things for you starting now!!! Just to be safe. also include a good physical check up, to be sure there is nothing physically wrong with you. Another idea is to see a counsellor, and/or join a caregiver's support group. Lots of good ideas here too, and also people who understand what you are going through. Writing things out helps. Let us know how you make out and do something good for you today.

GardenArtist: thank you for your excellent points. Yes, the "zero" end game is probably the cause for much of the tiredness. Her problems, for the first time in my life, I cannot resolve.
zipping up my "rhino suit" as I write this.

Olmaandme: thank you for your perspective. Yes, I am fortunate that my father had the foresight to put funds aside to care for my mother in case she needed it. I learned a long time ago, however, not to judge other's struggles as no one really knows what someone's life has been like. I hope you are learning that lesson as well.

Mom called me first thing in the morning: "Well, what happened?" she starts with right out of blue.
"What? I just got up?"
"I haven't heard from you!"
(we hadn't planned a thing.)
what followed is:
"Woe is me, I can't do this and that. Drop everything, your working, your caring for your own life. Rescue me." That was the main idea of it. "What are doing today?" she demanded more than asked.
"I haven't had breakfast yet-"
"OH, call me later then." and without giving me a chance to say more she hung up on me.

My reaction: a few minutes of anger and then I resolved to go about my life for the day: working at home. I called her later and invited her to go to the park. She could sit somewhere but I need to walk around for an hour. Luckily she didn't want to go. Because she agrees to boundaries but then breaks them left and right once she gets me to do one thing and we fight over everything these days.

But I felt really good about being firm, being able to switch and not dwell on that exchange. I had a really nice day. Then I brought over some cartons for her for her move and she hands me a bag of two hand me down shirts, all her old stockings, a nice drawing of mine that I gave her, and my poetry books that I wrote.

I read my poems at dinner time. Wow, I am not kidding. They are really awesome. This was the best part of my day. But it saddens me that Mom gave them back to me. I have my own copies.

What do you make of this?