Hi all. New to the boards but am very thankful to have found it as I am getting very frustrated in my current situation. I am not a live in, but am working as a full time caregiver for a young woman with cp in her freshman year in college. She is very dedicated to her studies (which I greatly admire) however she is extrelmely anti-social (keeping me from almost any other human contact for 8 hours) and for lack of a better word very anal about how she wants things done and very resistant to change, even when necessary. Just like everything in life, the beginning was great but now I go home almost every day wanting to scream. The problem is that I am with this young woman every morning, 5 days a week, through the afternoon early evening. Her level of cp requires assistance with just about everything, dressing, showering, toileting, feeding etc, as well as the fact that she's in school and I go with her and am responsible for helping her in class as well. I really think I'm burning out. I had previously pursued going to part time and working with another individual to lighten things up however because of her college schedule and having things pop up weekly requiring me to change hours and what not, that wasn't an option. Her plan is to move onto campus next year, which basically means I won't be able to work with her any longer as I can not give up my entire day from morning to bed time to get a full days worth of hours. I need to get through these next 2 months with as much sanity as I can. All my personal pep talks have been fruitless. If anyone can offer any kind of advice I would be sincerely greatful.

oh yes i understand what you are going through..i took care of a young boy he was 17 yrs old and i took care of him for 2 years. i also went to school with him he was in 11th grade. he had a disease that was passed through the mother during preg. i had to do everything for him also. feeding, bathing, etc. he couldnot talk. i had to walk him like a puppet. he went to school 5 days a week 8 hours he was in special ed class and i done everything with him. he passed away 3 yrs. ago this month. his mother woke up and checked on him on a sat. morning and he was gone. i use to get so fusterated and felt like you and then when he passed my heart broke he was just like my son. i had guilt on me for a long time cause i would get so burned out also and all i can say just cherrish each day with her i know how it gets to were you are so burned out. i hope this helped :wave:

thanks leeintx. it is a bit of an eye opener to think about how her and I have too become close and what it would mean to me if that we're to happen. I dont like having to think about death but it is a harsh reality. how did you handle your frustration when you were still working with him though?

need a break--oh i know how it gets, well i just usually went outside and smoked a cigarette and cooled down. i have had him slap me and bite me but i just remembered that he doesnot know what hes doing. so i would just sit him down and go outside and smoke a cigarette. :wave: