Caregiving is stressful. But how much stress is too much? There\u2019s a fine line between \u201cnormal\u201d stress and a level of stress that is harmful and debilitating.<\/p>\n
Often people say they feel burnt out, but what does caregiver burnout really mean? Five warning signs that caregiving is impacting you negatively, and you need to step back, are:<\/p>\n
We all stress eat, right? But if you find yourself eating sugar all day for weeks on end or skipping meals regularly, this is a sign of a bigger problem.\u00a0 It is not unusual for caregivers to increase or resume smoking or drinking to deal with the stress as well.<\/p>\n
You know you should exercise, but you just don\u2019t have the time. You can\u2019t remember the last time you went to the doctor, let alone met a friend to do something fun. You feel guilty enjoying yourself and can\u2019t manage to find the time to take care of yourself.<\/p>\n
The physical, emotional, and mental demands of caregiving don\u2019t just make a person anxious and depressed, they can actually affect a person\u2019s immune system. Are you getting sick more often or just can\u2019t get rid of that cough?\u00a0 Your body is trying to tell you something. We have seen a number of cases where the \u201chealthy spouse\u201d ended up passing away first.<\/p>\n
Whether it is conflict with the person you are caring for or other family members, it is very common to experience more tension.\u00a0 Family members may be suspicious of the caregiver or concerned over the financial impact of long-term care. In addition, dementia can result in paranoia and mistrust that can then be passed on to other family members.<\/p>\n
Caregivers under stress may feel furious one minute, then sad and helpless the next. You may feel taken advantage of, and then feel guilty for those feelings.\u00a0 And of course dealing with the crises that are bound to occur only make it more difficult.\u00a0 This emotional roller coaster takes its toll. It is very easy to overreact to situations.\u00a0 Common accidents become tragedies in your mind.<\/p>\n
Caregiver burnout can have serious consequences for both the caregiver and the care recipient.\u00a0 If you or someone you know is teetering on the edge of caregiver burnout, what can be done? Is the solution more \u201cme\u201d time? More respite care? Maybe. But those fixes can often feel superficial and temporary.<\/p>\n
Expert guidance can make a huge difference.\u00a0 A life care planning team can provide support and guidance throughout the long-term care journey, resulting in confidence and peace of mind.\u00a0 The social worker who works with our clients becomes like family to them and can be objective and serve as an intermediary to detect and address caregiver burnout.<\/p>\n