Who is Ellen Wohl Anyway?

Who am I, and why should anyone listen to me? Having survived a wild ride on a medical roller coaster for over 45 years, I've seen it all. But my story isn't about the myriad illnesses my husband battled. It's about how I survived as his caregiver.

Me, a caregiver? I was a loving wife and happy mom. But, when my husband got sick time and again, the stress of being pulled in so many directions wore me down. I thought something was wrong with me because I couldn't handle it. Life was a constant juggling act. The more I focused on keeping all the balls in the air, the less I considered my well-being. Before I realized it was happening, I evolved into a caregiver, giving up my sense of self.

Caregiver Burnout is very real, and eventually, I found ways to dodge it. I don't have a degree in social work, nursing, or psychology, but I have real-world experience. There are no magic words or wands to wave. As Glinda, the Good Witch, told Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, "You've always had the power, my dear. You just had to learn it for yourself."

I looked within myself for the power, discovering things that make me calm and happy. My focus eventually changed from fear and frustration to strength and soothed. I could distract from the stressor and focus on creating a diversion, a peaceful shift. I don't expect you to do exactly what I did, but I hope my story will spark ideas and inspire you. The power is in us. We can find it and use it to find our way back. Join me, Ellen