Sorry this is so long. This post originally started out to be about a show on Second Opinion on PBS about Caregiving Through Alzheimer's Disease. I have found Second Opinion shows very helpful. Their show on hospital delirium was so good that I watched it twice, taking notes each time, and copied all the notes into the planner that I carry with me all the time.

Anyway, if anyone is interested, this is a link to the caregiving show, which also shows links to other shows about dementia and caregiving, like one on caregiver burnout:
https://www.secondopinion-tv.org/episode/caregiving-through-alzheimers-disease

In looking online for more about their show, I also found this information, from Careblazers: dementia care heroes, on YouTube. Reading over these points was not so much a light bulb moment as it was like walking in front of a headlight on a train coming right down the tracks at me. I think that if you have one of these signs, it's probably time to make a change. If you have all five of the signs... well, that train is getting closer by the second. Personally, right now I'm trying to decide if I'm going to be able to jump far enough and fast enough to get off the track before the train barrels right over me.

FIVE SIGNS OF CAREGIVER STRESS THAT MEAN YOU NEED TO MAKE A CHANGE ASAP

1. YOU'VE STOPPED DOING THE THINGS THAT YOU ENJOY

Think back to before you were a caregiver for your loved one with dementia. How did you spend your time? What did you enjoy doing? When was the last time you did any of those things?

2. YOU'VE STOPPED TALKING WITH IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE

How often are you spending quality time with the most important people in your life? Was there someone you spent time with regularly that you haven't spoken to in a while?

3. YOUR CLOSEST FRIENDS AND FAMILY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT YOU.

Has anyone told you that they are worried about you? Have they told you that you don't seem like yourself? Has anyone told you that you need a break?

4. YOU DREAD TOMORROW

Do you dread tomorrow? Do you feel like you don't have anything to look forward to? Is it really difficult to get out of bed in the morning?

5. YOUR HEALTH IS GETTING WORSE

How has your health been recently? Are you overdue for a checkup? What has your doctor told you about your health recently? How is your energy, mood, sleep, eating?