Signs of Caregiver burnout

Caring for a loved one is not always easy. The stress of caregiving can have a significant impact on your own personal well-being and overall health.

Some carers are hesitant to bring up the stress they’re experiencing for fear of making their loved one feel guilty or making them appear weak or unprepared to handle their obligations. However, talking about burnout and knowing the signs is a vital part of preventing it.

Psychologists do not take caregiver burnout lightly, describing it as a draining psychological disorder that is caused by unrelieved stress. You shouldn’t view it lightly either. In fact, most caregivers are already experiencing a variety of symptoms by the time they suspect burnout.

The good news is, there are actions you can take to reduce stress and reclaim a sense of balance, joy, and hope in your life.

Signs of caregiver stress and burnout

Being aware of what caregiver burnout is means that you can protect yourself from burning the candle at both ends.

Here are some common signs:

• You have much less energy
• It feels like you pick up every cold that’s going around
• You’re always fatigued, even after taking a break or sleeping
• Changes in sleep, weight or eating habits
• You ignore your own necessities, either because you’re too busy or because you’ve lost interest
• You spend most of your time caring for others, but it provides you little satisfaction.
• You have trouble relaxing
• You’re becoming increasingly irritated and angry with the individual you’re caring for
• You feel hopeless and helpless

Ways to help prevent caregiver stress and burnout

While caring for your loved one may never be stress-free, the following suggestions can help you ease the load, minimise caregiver burnout, and find more balance in your life.

• Seek help! Needing assistance does not imply that you are a poor caregiver. It simply means that you can’t do it all on your own and nor should you be expected to (no one can do it alone).
• Allow yourself to take rest periods. Get out of the house where possible. Make plans to visit with family or friends. Make time for yourself to be pampered with a massage. Take a long soak in the tub.
• Look after yourself. Don’t put off seeing your own doctor because you’re too busy. Get plenty of exercise, eat healthy, and sleep well.
• Aim to get up 15 minutes earlier and dedicate that time to yourself. Relax and enjoy your coffee or tea. Keep a journal of your problems and emotions. Pray, stretch, write in a notebook, whatever it is you want to do.
• Make a list of all of your daily activities and responsibilities. Check to see whether any of them can be delegated. Maybe your partner can cook dinner twice or once a week. Perhaps a friend or relative can help with errands or laundry.
• See if your employer offers family-leave benefits. Give yourself additional hours in the day to take a great weight off your shoulders.
• If your loved one is receiving hospice care, inquire about local support groups. Opening up and discussing your frustrations—and joys —with people who are in your situation can be extremely beneficial.
• If you get a chance to get away for a few days, think about hospice respite care for your loved one. To relieve family members or other caregivers, your hospice programme should offer a short-term inpatient stay for your loved one (more than 24 hours and up to five days and nights maximum).

Taking care of yourself is a necessity, not a luxury. It’s just as vital to look after your own mental and physical well-being as it is to make sure your family member attends their doctor’s visit and takes their prescription on time. After all, you can’t pour from an empty cup.

If you would like to learn strategies on how to cope with burnout and stress along with how to reclaim a sense of balance and joy in your life, our psychologists are ready to help. Give our friendly reception team a call today on 1800 327 477 (AU) or 0800 327 477 (NZ). Alternatively, click here to book a session.