56. From Caregiver to Care-Receiver: Learning to Ask for Help Without Guilt

In Episode 56 of The Nurses' Breakroom with Jenny Lytle, RN, we explore a powerful truth: even the strongest caregivers need care too.

Titled “From Caregiver to Care-Receiver: Learning to Ask for Help Without Guilt,” this episode invites you to reflect on the emotional and spiritual strength it takes to say, “I need help.”

Jenny shares a simple but profound moment on the lake — a reminder that sometimes we have to turn toward the light (the S-O-N, not just the S-U-N) and accept the warmth of support when life feels cold.

If you’ve ever hesitated to lean on others — whether due to guilt, pride, or not wanting to seem weak — this is your reminder: you don’t have to do it all alone.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

• How to shift from caregiver to care-receiver — without shame
• Why asking for help can be a gift to others
• What spiritual and emotional support can look like in real life
• Simple first steps to stop suffering in silence
• How to book a free clarity call when you're not sure where to start

💬 “We’re not meant to go through life alone.”
This episode will encourage, comfort, and gently nudge you to reach out when you need it.

🎧 Listen now and take one small step toward supported living.

👉 Book a free clarity call at https://www.JennyLytle.com

If you're feeling overwhelmed, burned out, or like there’s never enough time, I’ve got something just for you! Head to https://selfcareisntselfish.com to grab your FREE copy of my book, Self-Care Isn’t Selfish: The Compassionate Nurse’s Step-by-Step Guide to Personalized Stress Relief. It’s packed with simple, effective strategies to help you prioritize your needs—without guilt—so you can feel energized, focused, and ready to take on the day. Go to https://selfcareisntselfish.com 

Looking for connection with people who get the stress and self-care struggles of nurses and caregivers? Check out https://thenursesbreakroom.com

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennylytlern/

More ways to connect here: https://linktr.ee/jennylytle

Chapters

• 0:00 Welcome to Nurse's Break Room
• 1:11 The Lake Metaphor: Sun's Warmth
• 2:12 Why Helpers Struggle Asking for Help
• 3:51 When and How to Reach Out
• 5:49 Self-Care Reminder and Closing

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:29

Hello and welcome back to another episode of the Nurse's Break Room with Jenny Lytle RN. Today we're gonna take a bit of a different turn and talk about something that I think we don't talk about enough, and that's asking for help. As a helper, at heart, I'm someone who loves giving help, but I'm not always so great at accepting help and especially not so much at asking for help. For me, my faith is something very important to me, and I had an instance earlier today where I was out floating in the lake with my friend, and it's chilly. Right now, we're experiencing a little bit of almost fall-like temperatures, and we're just wanting to really soak up those last bits of summer in case we are running short on summer days. And what really stood out to me is that when the clouds were covering the sun, of course, it felt a lot cooler, but when the sun was shining, there was so much warmth, it felt so much better and so much more bearable. And I think that the same can happen in our lives. When stick with me here when we turn our eyes toward the sun the S-O-N versus the S-U-N and really let that light, let that love sustain us. Now you may be somebody that doesn't believe what I believe, and that's okay. You're still completely welcome here. But I think even if we think of that as a person or help of some sort and just not trying to white knuckle through everything alone, you can understand where I'm coming from with this.

Speaker 1: 2:43

As caregivers, as people who give and give and give, it can be hard to say you know what. I've reached a point where I really need some help, and maybe that's because you realize you're at a breaking point. Or maybe that's just when you realize, hey, you know what, like I'm a little bit tired and I could use a little bit of help right now. Maybe you know what it's like to help someone and you know how good that feels and you want to allow someone else to experience that by helping you through something. We're not meant to go through life alone, we're not meant to figure out everything on our own, and so maybe that is turning to God. Maybe that's reaching out to a friend or to a healthcare professional if you're someone who's struggling in areas that way or a mental health professional. Maybe it's reaching out to a coach, if you feel like there's things in your life that you know you want to be a little different, but you're not really sure where to go.

Speaker 1: 3:52

There are so many options out there, and part of that just really comes from being able to humble ourselves enough to ask for help and to realize that it's not a failure, that we're not meant to do everything on our own, and that when we ask for help, we encourage others to be able to do that without feeling guilty either. We all have different gifts and different strengths and different struggles, and being able to connect with each other and encourage each other and just understand some of the things that we go through is only helpful. So I encourage you, if you feel like there's an area that maybe you could use some help or support in, reach out and ask someone. If it's a friend, wonderful. If it's making an appointment with someone great. Friend wonderful. If it's making an appointment with someone great.

Speaker 1: 4:57

If there's things that you're just really not sure where to go, If there's areas of your life where you're just feeling a little stuck and unsure, then feel free to reach out and schedule a no obligation, complimentary clarity call with me, and you can do that by going to my website, jenny Lytlecom, and just click schedule a free call until next time. Remember, self-care isn't selfish. It's the only way we can continue to care for others and live our best lives. Have a great week.