According to Google, disappointment is defined as “sadness or displeasure caused by the nonfulfillment of one’s hopes or expectations.” Unfortunately, it comes coupled with anger, frustration, loss, sadness, all feelings I know well as CarePartner for my husband with Parkinson’s Disease. I know he is also facing this to an even greater degree in his daily battles. Everyone will encounter disappointment at some point in their lives, it just seems like we get to do it so much more often these days.

I continued searching my friend Google for advice on how to deal with disappointment and found some helpful information on the Harvard Business Review website. Granted it didn’t have anything to do with being a CarePartner, but the coping skills they shared seemed universal. They say that if I take the time to understand why I am disappointed, then look at what may be possible, I can adjust my expectations to look for a realistic solution that works rather than dwell on what doesn’t. This matches my husband’s approach of focusing on what he can still do rather than what PD tries to tell him he can’t. I like it.

Daily Caring, an on-line resource for Caregivers, doesn’t directly address disappointment but they do have a great article on how to deal with “The 7 Deadly Emotions of Caregiving”. They talk about the importance of acknowledgement and suggest healthy outlets for my difficult emotions. They stress the value of connecting with others and understanding that my feelings are normal. It’s okay for me to be angry, frustrated, resentful, sad, but I must find healthy ways to cope. Disappointment is going to be a part of my journey, I simply need to make sure I don’t waste more thought on it than it deserves.

Find the article from the Harvard Business Review “Dealing with Disappointment, by Manfred F.R. Kets de Vries” here and “The 7 Deadly Emotions of Caregiving: How to Cope” here.