Caregiver Stress and Burnout

The job of caregiving, whether it is caring for a family member or caring for a patient as a professional caregiver, can be very rewarding.  But it also can be very demanding upon a caregiver’s time, energy, and emotions.  If you were to ask any caregiver, they would have wonderful stories to tell of sweet, shared moments with the patient.  Yet they would also tell you of their own difficulty and increased responsibilities in caring for a patient with a chronic illness, particularly as the patient’s health declines.

I’ve discussed caregiver self-care on many occasions in my writings.  In doing some research on the subject of self-care and what can occur when self-care is neglected, I ran across a wonderful website called HelpGuide.org.  Today I want to begin discussion on caregiver stress and burnout.  I am only speculating here, but I would venture to guess that probably every caregiver has felt either stress or some level of burnout at some time.  As caregivers, we need to be able to recognize the signs of stress and burnout, so that we may deal with these issues before they affect our own health, which in turn affects our ability to care for the patient.

HelpGuide.org lists signs and symptoms of caregiver stress and burnout, so I will credit them now for their thorough lists.

Common signs and symptoms of caregiver stress are:

  • Anxiety, depression, irritability
  • Feeling tired and rundown
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Overreacting to minor nuisances
  • New or worsening health problems
  • Trouble concentrating
  • Feeling increasingly resentful
  • Drinking, smoking, or eating more
  • Neglecting responsibilities
  • Cutting back on leisure activities

Common signs and symptoms of caregiver burnout are:

  • You have much less energy than you once had
  • It seems like you catch every cold or flu that’s going around
  • You’re constantly exhausted, even after sleeping or taking a break
  • You neglect your own needs, either because you’re too busy or you don’t care anymore
  • Your life revolves around caregiving, but it gives you little satisfaction
  • You have trouble relaxing, even when help is available
  • You’re increasingly impatient and irritable with the person you’re caring for
  • You feel helpless and hopeless

As a caregiver it is important to watch for the warning signs and take action as soon as possible. I have mentioned ways of dealing with stress and emotional needs in prior writings on self-care.

Today I will present the 5 ways HelpGuide.org suggests for dealing with caregiver stress or burnout:

  • Ask for help
  • Give yourself a break
  • Practice acceptance
  • Take care of your health
  • Join a support group

Tomorrow we will discuss each item, and possibly others, in greater detail.  Until then, make it a great day, and please make sure you are taking good care of yourself!  You are worth it!

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