Ready to Stop Judging Yourself?

"I was tired of listening to my harshest critic, the little voice in my head, so I became more KIND to myself." -Member of myALZteam

You may judge yourself and others every day without realizing it. Like many members of myALZteam have found, being a caregiver for someone who has Alzheimer's disease has its frustrating moments. You may judge or blame yourself when you are stressed out, when your loved one is having a rough day, or when you falter with a simple task. The problem is when you let these internal judgments shape belief in yourself.

Here are recent conversations from members on myALZteam:

"Finally feeling like a human being again and on the road to healing. Time for some major self-care and prioritizing wellness and healing. So good to be back in the land of the living!!"

"I have read 100 times that self-care for the caregiver is such an important thing. So, I did something for myself. One hour. A foot massage. Oh my! I need another thousand of those! But just this time, a first step...I did benefit in my spirit."

"I took an hour out of my caregiving to have a pedicure with my best friend. That was so special. I’m thankful for my friends and co-workers. They give me so much love."

Experts in mindfulness and self-care recommend pausing a moment when you find you're judging yourself. Be aware of those judgments. Ask yourself where this is coming from. Use the moment to be gentle and compassionate with yourself.

Do you recall a time when you were particularly critical of yourself? What are you doing to show yourself kindness in those moments? Share in the comments below or directly on myALZteam.