Is there life after caregiving, and if so what it is like?
Of course, there is no single answer to this question. It depends on so much: a caregiver’s circumstances and emotional temperament, the nature of his or her relationship with the person being looked after, the demands that caregiving imposed, the resources available, and the way a loved one’s final chapter unfolded, among many other factors.
It takes time to process the experience of caregiving. “It’s almost like your brain is careful not to open up the fire hydrant” of emotions, and “it lets it trickle out in bits and pieces.” The time after caregiving became a “time for reflecting” Where was my place in the world?
You can read JUDITH GRAHAM‘ s full article on The New York Times’s website here: