Jan Marin, your host, welcomes Brenda Agnew to today's episode. She is the client liaison at Gluckstein Lawyers, a former client, who offers clients a really unique perspective and support since she has been in the shoes herself. Brenda is the proud mother of two boys, Chase and Maclain. Her son Maclain has severe Cerebral Palsy and profound hearing loss as a result of a condition known as Kernicterus, a brain injury that results from untreated jaundice.
Today, Brenda and Jan talk about mental health, a topic that has brought attention in the past recent years but it is still quite difficult for some people to acknowledge support or address. Specifically, Brenda and Jan are discussing mental health challenges that can arise for caregivers.
Key Takeaways:
[1:46] Having a child with a developmental disability can have an effect on the mental health of the parents.
[3:42] Brenda shares how being a caregiver for Maclain has impacted her mental health.
[8:17] Brenda and Jan talk about guilt.
[15:27] Nobody wishes for a life as a caregiver.
[18:28] Brenda talks about how they took the pandemic as a family and
[21:35] The most common triggers for caregivers
[25:30] Holidays can also be a trigger for families that have a child with a developmental disability.
[30:05] Brenda talks about the effects of sleep deprivation.
[32:15] Brenda talks about her own experience in psychotherapy.
[36:54] The stigma of talking about mental health.
[41:22] Caregivers need to acknowledge their own pain.
[44:07] Brenda talks about how being involved in a lawsuit can exacerbate and alleviate mental challenges.
[51:10] The value of entering a lawsuit is feeling listened to and to receive answers.
[56:08] Brenda shares her best suggestions for caregivers to move through mental health challenges.
[1:01:05] Brenda talks about all she found out about herself in the process of being Maclain's mother.
[1:03:54] Brenda counts her blessings.
Mentioned in this episode:
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