Caregiving for a family member has its own demands. It can definitely be overwhelming and exhausting. It can lead to caregiver burnout. Here are steps you can take to regain some balance and find a sense of joy, hope, and compassion in your life.

What is Caregiver Burnout?

Caring for a loved one, while it can be rewarding and even a duty for many Filipino families—it can be challenging. It involves many stressors. And what may start out as a short-term endeavor may turn out to snowball into a long-term impact that affects not just the elder and you. These, along with other factors, may affect the rest of the family as well.

In fact, you may face years, if not decades, of caregiver responsibilities. It can be fraught with mixed emotions. There’s the disheartening condition of your loved one. There’s also the thought that things will not get better. Despite your best efforts, it can seem hopeless to see your loved one deteriorate before your eyes.

For caregivers, all these things can take a toll. This affects not just their physical health, but also their mental health, along with many aspects of their life. This can also affect their state of mind, resulting to what is called “caregiver burnout.”

A caregiver is a state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion. And when a caregiver gets to this point, it’s not only them that suffer, but also those they care for.

And it’s because of this that caring for oneself can feel like a luxury for a caregiver.

What are the signs of caregiver burnout?

• anxiety
• depression
• irritability
• feeling tired and run-down
• sleeping difficulties
• overreacting to even the slightest nuisance
• mood swings
• trouble concentrating
• feeling resentful
• drinking, smoking, or eating more
• neglecting responsibilities
• cutting back on leisure activities
• new or worsening health problems

Before you get to this point, however, it’s important to recognize the warning signs of caregiver burnout:

• You have much less energy than you had before
• You’re feeling constantly drained and exhausted
• You catch yourself doing something else instead of taking a break
• You neglect your own needs since you’re too busy or you don’t care anymore
• Other people point out you put your own well-being like an afterthought
• Your life revolves around caregiving, but this gives you little satisfaction
• You have trouble relaxing even if you can or if there’s help available
• You are increasingly impatient and irritable
• You feel helpless and hopeless

How you can empower yourself

Burnout and depression can go hand in hand. It’s important to find ways to stop yourself from falling into the trap. It’s important to also understand that your situation is not endless, and nor is it hopeless.

Here are some ways you can empower yourself:

• Practice acceptance. It can be easy and inevitable to question everything when faced with a difficult situation. You may think things are unfair and you may start blaming other people. When you channel your energy towards accepting your situation, you can focus more on doing the right thing for yourself and your loved one.
•  Practice gratitude. Make it a habit to find something to be grateful for in every situation.
• Don’t let caregiving be the center of your life. Don’t let it take over your whole existence and make it a must to find other activities that are rewarding and worthwhile for you. This is vital in reenergizing you.
• Celebrate your wins. If you feel drained or discouraged, remind yourself that what you’re doing matters. And YOU matter. You are making a difference.
• Focus on the things you can control. Rather than stressing over things that you can’t change or you have no control over, focus on how you react to your problems. Focus on putting things in a better perspective. It definitely pays off!

Find help caring for your elderly loved ones. Talk to us at Blessed Home.