Caregiver Stress

When the demands placed upon you exceed your resources, it’s time to make some changes.

The caregiver role is a demanding one. Peel Public Health (PPH) describes the caregiver role as, “meeting the physical and emotional needs of another person.” They add, “Your responsibilities may include making important decisions on behalf of the person you care for as well as major changes in your own life to accommodate your caregiving role.” This is a challenging task. Caring for family members requires time and energy, and it can take its toll. And you may not even realize the responsibility you’ve taken on until you begin to feel its effects.

It can be stressful to try and meet the demands of others on a constant basis. Whether it’s children, a spouse or a parent you’re caring for, it can be emotionally and physically draining, especially when there is minimal relief for yourself.

Most caregivers give to the point of neglecting their own needs. On a daily basis they are so busy catering to the needs of others that they forget or lack the time or feel too guilty to make sure they are tending to their own needs, which can lead to burnout.

Signs that you’re at your limit and need to care for your own health are fatigue, insomnia, less motivation, less interest in things you used to enjoy, increased illness, social isolation, and less time to tend to your own needs, according to PPH. They add, “A caregiver’s health and safety is as important as that of the person being cared for.” The following are some suggestions for managing the caregiver role.

• Share the responsibility. Encourage independence with those you’re caring for, which includes involving them in decisions, where feasible. Let others help with the responsibility. Seek out help of friends, family, and community services.
• Create a balance. Have a degree of normalcy outside of the caregiving experience. Maintain a balance between health and lifestyle, friendships and activities. These things will give you strength to continue providing care.
• Give yourself a break and don’t be hard on yourself when things don’t always turn out the way you’d like them to.
• Be realistic about how much you can do. Think about what’s most important to you and consider your limits regarding how much you can do.
• Make regular appointments with your doctor for checkups.
• Take regular breaks from caregiving. Don’t wait until you’re too exhausted to do this.
• Plan for regular physical activity and relaxation. Walking, gardening, deep breathing, meditation, and yoga are great ways to relieve mental stress. This will also help promote deep sleep and restore energy. As little as 10 minutes, 2 or 3 times a day can make a significant difference to how you feel.
• Communicate with others. Communicating to other people can help them understand your situation better and thus be in a better position to help give you the support you need, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. They add, “It is also important to share your feelings. Find someone with whom you feel comfortable talking about your feelings.”
  

It may be important for you to be there for loved ones in their time of need. However, it’s just as important for you to take care of yourself. Recognize that your needs are important and create a balance so that everyone will be healthy and happy – including you! MSMC