Caregiver Burnout

Caregiver burnout is a common occurence for those with the sole responsibility of taking care of a loved one. There are a multitude of reasons why this can occur ranging from role confusion to lack of control to unrealistic expectations.

Sometimes it is hard to identify that you are in fact experiencing caregiver burnout. Here are some of the symptoms to look out for:

• Withdrawal from family and friends
• Feeling sad frequently
• Changes in appetites
• Changes in sleeping patterns
• Losing interest in the activities that you used to love doing

There are some ways to prevent caregiver burnout from starting or getting worse.

The first solution is to find one person that you can confide in when things start to feel overwhelming. If you don't have a person you feel comfortable confiding in join a caregiver support group. Look up your local agency on aging to find out where caregiver support groups are located. Having an outlet to voice your frustrations and concerns is a healthy way to relieve some stress.

The next thing you may need to do is turn to outside help for some tasks. It is hard to do it all, especially when we have our own responsibilities to do on top of being a caregiver as a well. Hiring someone to help a few days a week so you can get out of the house and do the things you need to get done is very helpful.

It is also a good idea to educate yourself on your loved one's illness. Being knowledgeable about the illness will create more realistic expectations for you and will also allow you provide more effective care.

The last thing that is important to remember is to accept your feelings. Every caregiver gets frustrated from time to time it doesn't make you a bad person. Remember to take a little time for yourself each day to do something that you like to do.

If you have any questions or have any good advice for others feel free to post a comment.