Episode 38

When Self-Care Feels Impossible: A Caregiver’s Journey Back to Herself

Published on: 8th August, 2022

In this powerful rewind episode, Laura speaks with Charlotte Bayala—caregiver, coach, and creator of the Love Your Caregiving Life podcast and Caregiving Confidential digital magazine. Charlotte opens up about her long-term caregiving journey for her husband following his thyroid cancer diagnosis, and how it forced her to reevaluate everything she knew about self-care. From meditation and burnout to redefining joy and learning to be present, this conversation is a validating and heartfelt reminder that your well-being matters, too.

Whether you’re new to caregiving or have been doing it for years, Charlotte’s wisdom offers a gentle nudge to stop, breathe, and prioritize yourself without guilt.

Meet Charlotte Bayala:

Charlotte Bayala is the creator of the Love Your Caregiving Life podcast, the Cancer Caregiver Podcast, and the Caregiving Confidential digital magazine. A long-term caregiver for her husband since his thyroid cancer diagnosis in 2013, Charlotte is also a yoga and meditation teacher and caregiver coach. Her work supports caregivers in rediscovering calm, joy, and self-compassion—no matter what stage of the journey they’re in.

Topics Discussed:

  • Charlotte’s story: from yoga teacher to full-time caregiver
  • How caregiving changed her life and identity
  • The myth of “just meditate” and why self-care often feels out of reach
  • The emotional and spiritual toll of long-term caregiving
  • Why it’s okay if the things that once brought you joy no longer do
  • The importance of adapting routines and rituals to a new life reality
  • How to make self-care doable—on your terms
  • Letting go of guilt, perfection, and the pressure to "do it all"
  • Reframing the future and reclaiming the present moment

Timestamps (Approximate):

00:00 – Welcome + introduction of Charlotte Bayala

03:45 – Charlotte’s caregiving journey and sudden diagnosis

10:20 – Why even skilled meditators struggle under caregiver stress

14:40 – A new relationship with self: reframing identity and joy

21:10 – The emotional rollercoaster of long-term caregiving

29:00 – When your favorite self-care tools stop working

35:30 – How to find new ways to soothe your nervous system

41:45 – The spiritual reckoning and quiet crisis of caregiving

48:00 – Letting go of busywork and learning to pause

55:30 – Making your care a non-negotiable priority

1:02:00 – Shifting thoughts, reclaiming the moment, and self-compassion

Key Takeaways:

  • You are not your thoughts—and you are not alone
  • If old tools no longer bring peace, try new forms within your comfort zone
  • Self-care doesn't have to be expensive, long, or quiet—it just has to fit your life
  • Caregiving changes everything; your needs matter just as much
  • Reframing the future starts with being fully present today

Resources Mentioned:

Connect with Charlotte Bayala:

Website: www.loveyourcaregivinglife.com

Other Podcast: www.cancercaregiverpodcast.com

Instagram: @cancercaregiverpodcast

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/charlottebayala

Connect with Laura Vaillancourt & the Life on Repeat Podcast

Website: lifeonrepeatpodcast.com

Instagram: @lifeonrepeatpodcast

Facebook: Life on Repeat Podcast

YouTube: Life on Repeat Podcast Channel

If this episode resonated with you, please like, subscribe, and share it with a fellow caregiver. You’re not alone.

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About the Podcast

Life on Repeat: A Dementia Caregiver Podcast
A Podcast for Dementia Caregivers
Life on Repeat is the podcast for dementia caregivers who need a breath, a laugh, and a lifeline.

Hosted by eldercare consultant and dementia coach Laura Vaillancourt, each episode offers practical tools, expert insights, and honest conversations to help you navigate the caregiving journey with more clarity and less overwhelm.

Whether you're a spouse, adult child, or long-distance caregiver, this show is your companion through the complex world of dementia care—offering wisdom, validation, and encouragement every step of the way.

You’re not alone. You’re doing better than you think. And this podcast is here to walk beside you.

About your host

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Laura Vaillancourt

Laura has a unique perspective of dementia. She grew up spending time in the nursing home wing of the hospital her mother worked at in a rural community in the Pacific Northwest. She learned from a young age the importance and impact that connecting with those that have memory impairment can have. This early exposure shaped her perspective and fostered her passion and love of working with those who experience and live with dementia.

Laura is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Geriatric Mental Health Specialist and Eldercare Coach. She owns a group practice that specializes in serving the aging population and she has extensive experience as a consultant providing counseling, coaching and care management to families that are in the midst of making difficult decisions related to their loved one’s care and health transitions.

Laura's passion and professional experience has been working with individuals and family members that have been affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. She is a passionate speaker and educator on topics related to dementia and caregiving. She is the host of Life on Repeat: a Dementia Caregiver Podcast.