From Outbursts to Burnout: What Caregivers Face (and How to Cope)

📝 Episode Overview:

In this episode, Laura sits down with licensed mental health counselor Laurie Thompson to explore the emotional toll of “challenging behaviors” in dementia care. This episode centers the caregiver—what you experience, what you need, and how to protect your own well-being while supporting a loved one.

👤 Meet Laurie Thompson:

Laurie Thompson is a licensed mental health counselor, dementia connection specialist, and certified sexual and intimacy wellness practitioner. With over a decade of experience working with families, care staff, and individuals in memory care, Laurie takes a holistic, individualized approach to helping both care receivers and caregivers navigate dementia-related challenges.

⏱️ Timestamps (Approximate):

• 00:00 – Introduction
• 01:55 – Meet Laurie Thompson & her background
• 06:20 – What are “challenging behaviors”?
• 11:10 – All behavior is communication
• 15:30 – Low, medium & high-risk behavior examples
• 24:40 – The emotional impact on caregivers
• 30:15 – Recognizing burnout
• 36:30 – Real-world self-care strategies
• 44:00 – When caregiving becomes unsafe
• 50:50 – Reframing guilt and walking away
• 55:00 – Final encouragement for caregivers

📌 Topics Discussed:

• Understanding “challenging behaviors”
• Why behavior = communication
• Risk levels of behaviors (low, medium, high)
• How stress impacts your ability to respond
• Caregiver burnout warning signs
• What to do when caregiving becomes unsafe
• Tiny & medium-sized self-care ideas
• Why caregivers must be supported

💡 Key Takeaways:

• All behavior is communication—get curious, not reactive.
• Caregivers often experience burnout before they recognize it.
• Self-care isn’t optional—it’s essential to keep the whole system going.
• Small shifts like journaling or breathwork can have a big impact.
• Your energy affects the entire caregiving dynamic.
• It’s okay to call for help. Safety matters—for everyone.

📚 Resources Mentioned:

• Dementia Connection Specialist Certification
• ADLs (Activities of Daily Living)
• Caregiver safety planning
• Habit stacking, grounding techniques

🤝 Connect with Laurie Thompson:

Contact the Life on Repeat Podcast team for more info.

🌿 Connect with Laura Vaillancourt & the Life on Repeat Podcast:

Website: https://lifeonrepeatpodcast.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/lifeonrepeatpodcast

Facebook: https://facebook.com/lifeonrepeatpodcast

YouTube: Coming Soon!

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