How to Deal with Caregiver Burnout
Posted by on July 29, 2009
From an evolutionary standpoint, our bodies are made for short bursts of stress, like running away from dangerous situations, such as a forest fire. But nowadays, the world is one of the constant low-level stress. For caregivers, high stress levels are continual. And frankly, the human body isn’t made to withstand such constant wear and tear. As a whole, many family caregivers cannot put aside strong feelings associated with caregiving, which can run the gamut from devotion to guilt, to see the importance of avoiding the problem of caregiver burnout. I really cannot stress enough the importance: as a caregiver, you are only as good as the continuous care you can provide. Oftentimes this is based on factors outside your control. You will get tired. You will get frustrated. You will need help. And of course, you are allowed to have these thoughts and feelings.
So then how do you handle the passing frustration that has fizzled into a burning situation? Well, early signs are similar to depression in that caregivers can vacillate between anger, anxiety, sadness and irritability. Feelings of exhaustion, both physically and emotionally, along with changes in weight are also hallmarks. Keep in mind that a depressed mind can make for a depressed immune system; getting sick often could be another warning sign. (Additionally, even the greatest irony of caregiving is that the caregiver;s health concerns are often not looked into, because the caregiver isn;t the one who is “sick” or “needs help”. Many family caregivers are reluctant to “take up time” for their own doctor visits.) If any of these symptoms grow in frequency or intensity, then it is time to seek help.
Time and again, I always urge caregivers to make certain they are taking care of their own health and well-being because although it is noble to place someone else’s needs above yours, it is not always feasible or right. In parent-child relationships, the adult children will often feel that they must look after the parent, in order to return the favor of having been raised by them, even if they are not qualified to do so. These are all honorable ideas, but the reality is that caregiving situations, just like raising a child requires a village. If you really want to give good long term care then you need to get hooked in with family, friends and outside resources. You can be the primary caregiver and still not be there every minute of the day. Spread out responsibilities.
On the Gilbert Guide web site alone, we offer dozens of solutions and ideas to help family caregivers, including online resources, coping strategies and information on topics such as Alzheimer’s and dementia care, and how to be an effective advocate as a caregiver. Support groups provide family caregivers with a place to discuss their feelings openly, can help monitor the effectiveness of coping strategies, and let caregivers know they are not alone. However, there is also one simple solution to avoiding caregiver burnout: keep your sense of humor and look for the small joys that can come your way throughout the day.
