As an adult caregiver, you have an important job. You provide unconditional love and attentive care to the ones you love.
But, if you don’t care for yourself, you can become overwhelmed, stressed, and burned out. Being mindful of the common caregiver burnout symptoms is essential for physical and mental well-being. So, take a few moments to review the signs and how to prevent them from taking a toll on your health.
What Is Caregiver Burnout?
Caregiver burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged caregiving. If any of the symptoms that will be mentioned below begin to surface, it is important to look at the situation and how it can be made better.
1. Unusual Anxiety & Irritability
Burnout can be a challenge for caregivers and those they are caring for. Unusual anxiety and irritability are common symptoms of caregiver burnout.
When affected by burnout, caregivers may become overwhelmed with the following:
- exhaustion and frustration
- excessive worry
- negative thinking
- confusion
- lack of focus
They may feel more stressed and be more irritable than usual. They may feel resentful towards the loved one they are caring for and end up taking their feelings out on them.
Recognizing these symptoms is essential to manage them before they become overwhelming. Making time for rest, relaxation, and recreation, as well as connecting with relatives, friends, and other important people, can help reduce caregiver burnout symptoms.
2. Isolation & Fatigue
Isolation can be caused by feeling disconnected when providing care without much support. Feeling overwhelmed, unappreciated, and having limited time to socialize can lead to isolation. Isolation can cause emotional neglect, helplessness, and lack of activity.
Fatigue is also a prevalent symptom of caregiver burnout. Not only can emotional overload cause fatigue, but the physical strain of helping the person needing care can take its toll. Not getting enough rest and sleep can cause physical exhaustion, resulting in long-term, chronic fatigue.
3. Sleep Disturbances
If a person is caring for a loved one 24/7 and not receiving adequate rest, it can lead to extreme exhaustion and difficulty functioning. Sleep disturbances can be in the form of:
- insomnia (the inability to fall asleep)
- restlessness and constant waking throughout the night
- extreme fatigue during the day, despite adequate night rest
Other signs of caregiver burnout that can lead to sleep disturbances include feelings of hopelessness, agitation and irritability, forgetfulness, and loss of appetite. If these issues persist, it’s important to seek assistance from a mental health professional to manage the physical and emotional stress of caring for someone.
4. Physical Health Symptoms
Physical health symptoms of caregiver burnout may include headaches, body aches, chest pain, shortness of breath, and significantly weakened immunity, as stress impairs the body’s ability to fight off disease.
Many caregivers experience changes in their diet. They find it difficult to take time for themselves for meals.
Rapid weight gain or loss is also common, as well as a lack of motivation for physical activity due to fatigue, depression, and isolation. Burnout can also manifest in a decline in personal hygiene.
It’s important for caregivers to recognize and address these symptoms in order to prevent further burnout and maintain healthier physical and mental health.
5. Loss of Joy for Caregiving Responsibilities
The hardest part of caregiving can be losing the joy one once found in their responsibility. This sentiment can manifest in different ways. This ranges from feelings of dread when completing everyday tasks to decreased satisfaction in caregiving duties.
As burnout becomes more severe, those affected may become overwhelmed and resentful of their responsibilities. It can lead to feelings of hopelessness and lack of enjoyment in life outside of caregiving.
Caregivers can also experience feelings of guilt, resentment, and anger as their life’s balance becomes upset. By understanding these symptoms and the causes behind them, caregivers can take steps to prevent burnout and reignite their passion for their responsibilities.
Common Ways to Avoid Caregiver Burnout
Caregiver burnout can lead to exhaustion and stress. Here are some common ways to avoid caregiver burnout:
Practice Self-Care Strategies
It’s critical to prioritize self-care: take walks, read a book, take breaks from caregiving duties, or do something special for yourself each day. Learn to identify and accept your own emotions. Learn to manage your stress levels.
Reach out for help when you need it, and be mindful of your own feelings and needs.
Identify Triggers & Find Coping Skills
Identifying what causes stress, whether it’s related to the caregiving duties themselves or due to external forces, can help you avoid or address them. Once triggers are identified, it’s essential to discover coping skills that can help you de-stress in those moments of difficulty.
Coping skills could range from taking time to relax and unwind or engaging in something calm like yoga or meditation. Additionally, finding ways to use positivity and connect with other people who understand the difficulties of caregiving can be incredibly beneficial for combating burnout.
Set Realistic Boundaries & Expectations
One of the best ways to avoid caregiver burnout is to set realistic boundaries and expectations. This is especially true for those who are tending to a family member or friend in need.
There may be times when the demands of caregiving can be difficult to manage. Thus it is important to remember to put the well-being of both the caregiver and care recipient first.
Setting boundaries and expectations from the beginning can ensure that both parties are operating from a clear understanding of the situation. This can mean taking regular breaks, communicating needs and expectations up front, as well as enlisting the help of friends and other family members.
Consider Family Homes
Staying with an elderly relative or having a service bring them to your home a few times a week can ease stress and make caregiving responsibilities a tad bit easier. Sharing responsibilities will reduce stress and fatigue.
Don’t hesitate to reach out for professional help from adult family homes.
Properly Dealing With Caregiver Burnout Symptoms
Burnout can be a problem for people who care for family or friends, and it takes a toll on personal health. It’s important to watch for caregiver burnout symptoms and take the necessary steps to prevent it.
Working with a therapist or consultant can help identify strategies to handle caregiver responsibilities, as can setting boundaries and making time for self-care. Don’t wait for burnout to take over – check out the resources available today and take action.
Check out the health section of our blog for more information about this and related topics.
