A Steve McQueen Moment
Submitted by mlichter on 2006, December 27 - 08:57.
I call it the "Steve McQueen Moment." If you remember the movie The Sand Pebbles, you likely recall the dramatic last scene in which McQueen's character falls victim to a situation that never should have been. His reply to this is: "What happened? What the hell happened?"
If you've become a caregiver suddenly, you probably have thought the same thing. Even if you saw it coming, but never realized what an enormous task caregiving can be, those thoughts have run through your mind as the realities of the situation set in.
It's not one of those questions to which you're expected to have an answer. It's more a statement of disbelief and exasperation. But if you try to answer it, maybe you can find a way to deal with your situation. You will come to understand that there may be nothing you can do about your situation except to accept it and make the best of it. It could be you'll understand it, realize you can't handle it alone, and seek some help. It might just bring on a good cry, and there's really nothing wrong with that—as long as you then do what you can to deal with that which made you cry.
Maybe you feel trapped or overwhelmed. Maybe you feel defeated, or at least that you're fighting what will eventually be a losing battle. But what you have over McQueen's character is that you will—if you try, if you care for yourself at least as much as you care for your loved one—survive.
How do you deal with your "Steve McQueen Moment?" What gets you through the day when you feel overburdened and overwhelmed? Let me—and all those who come to caringtoday.com—know by responding here or in one of our forums. Looking forward to hearing from you so we can all help each other.