It was a busy Sunday. We met up with a friend for lunch in Flushing. From there, we went to my son's place and had a small gathering with my sister's son.
Over lunch, my friend told me about her experience as a caregiver in China. She was there for a few months, taking care of her 87-year-old mother who had a stroke last year. As a result, her mother faces many challenges, from taking care of herself to speaking and writing. It was easy for her to feel despaired and lose the courage to keep living.
My friend hired a helper to care for her mother during the rehab period. Meanwhile, she was there not only assisting her recovery but, more importantly, being her cheerleader, providing her positive emotional and mental support.
Her mother is lucky to have a daughter who is there for her, offering emotional support and encouragement! Being her cheerleader is another new level of care, which is crucial to her healing process.
But my friend wasn't prepared for the enormous tolls of being a caregiver and cheerleader. Supporting an elderly parent recovering from a stroke involves huge physical, emotional, and mental effort. She felt overwhelmed and emotionally drained. She herself became depressed under the weight of caregiving.
Then she turned to writing, trying to get relief for herself. She put her thoughts, feelings, and daily experiences into words. Writing served as a powerful outlet for processing these experiences, allowing her to gain a new layer of mental clarity and inject new meanings into what she experiences. She also got the sense of relief she sought.
What I learned today is that writing is therapeutic. It is important for us to find coping mechanisms to maintain our mental health and well-being while dealing with demanding caregiving duties.
Ending our day with a shared meal and heartfelt stories like this one reminds me of the strength found in friends and relatives, and the healing power of expressing oneself through writing.