“Caregiver Burnout” is more common than you think

Caring for someone with a health condition can often be stressful. There are clear signs that mean a caregiver needs a break or needs to re-set. “Caregiver burnout” is real and there are real ways to manage it.

The first step is to know the signs. Alarm bells should ring if a caregiver begins to feel more:

• Irritable and moody - anger or frustration may be felt toward the person being cared for
• Anxious or depressed - these feelings can weigh heavily over the caregiver’s life
• Exhaustion and tiredness - this feeling may not go away
• Health problems of their own - including stomach issues or back pain
• A hard time concentrating - this can make everyday tasks a challenge
  
• Numbness - a general feeling of emptiness
• Sleeplessness – trouble falling and/or staying asleep
• Withdrawal - some caregivers avoid friends and things they used to enjoy

The American Medical Association and the American Psychological Association developed this ​​​​​​​caregiver self-assessment questionnaire. It can help to fill this out and share it with your doctor.

If you or someone you care about is showing any warning signs, please talk about it. You may help to find solutions. Caregivers can and should take a step back to care for themselves. As they say on an airplane: care for yourself first before you care for others.

There are many ways caregivers can get help. There are services for a much-needed break. For more resources and tips to help caregivers, look into these providers (and others):

• Caring Bridge
• AARP
• The Cancer Support Community
• The National Alliance for Caregiving

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