Taking care of our loved one is a fulfilling duty. By being on top of the needs of our family—especially extending assistance care for senior members—we also put our minds at ease that they are well taken care of. It also helps us build stronger relationships with them.

But caregiving demands more than just physical strength and presence. Just as it can be rewarding, it can take a toll on our mental health too. With our time and energy used to caregiving, we may find ourselves limiting social interactions and in worse cases, neglecting to take care of ourselves too.

According to the Mayo Clinic, “caregivers report higher levels of stress than do people who are not caregivers.”

You are not alone in feeling caregiver burnout. It is important for caregivers to know when support is needed the most.

Recognize your burnout

When we care for other people, it is equally important that we too are well aware and attuned to our own needs. After all, how can we attend to our loved ones’ needs if we are unhealthy?

There are many factors that can aggravate caregiver burnout, such as caring for many members of the family—such as caring for elderly at home while also tending to your duties as a mother or a father. Other factors include lacking guidance from professional caregivers, dedicating too much time to caregiving, or even just having a long list of tasks to accomplish.

Among the signs that Healthline included are feeling anxious, sad, or exhausted; avoiding interactions with people; not having energy or losing interest in things you used to enjoy doing; misuse of alcohol or drugs; or neglecting your own health and needs, including missing your own medical appointments. If not addressed, this may also lead to depression.

Caregiver burnout may also manifest physically such as frequent headaches or body pains; fatigue; sudden increase or losing of appetite; insomnia; and sudden changes in health. These sudden changes in your physical health may also lead to heart disease, or diabetes.

Managing caregiver burnout

It is important to recognize the symptoms of a caregiver burnout and take steps to manage it. Remember that you cannot take care of others if you are unable to take good care of yourself too.

Here are some tips to help manage the stress:

Do not do everything by yourself. One can only do so much. Be honest with yourself and determine what are the caregiver tasks that you can do, and those that may be better done by someone else. This will also allow you to spend your energy more efficiently as you can focus on tasks that you can do.

Practice self-care. Set a routine in your day that will be given to self-care. This can be as short as 30 minutes before starting the day, and another 30 minutes before sleeping. Use this short period to do things that relax you like walking around to get some sunlight, reading a book, enjoying tea while scrolling social media, or doing light exercise. This will give you breathing space.

Maintain social connections. Find ways to connect to your friends and family. Try to meet them, even on quick breaks, once a week. Spending time in a different environment can prevent the feeling of isolation to set in.

Consider getting professional caregivers. We all need help. You can choose to get short-term respite care from professionals to get breaks from your caregiving. Another option is considering private home care agencies. These are professionals who are trained to attend to the needs of your loved ones, especially rendering assistance care for seniors. 

Southern California Caregiving can deliver the compassionate home care that you need. Check them here: