The strain of care
giving can lead to exhaustion – physically, mentally, emotionally and
spiritually. Many times this exhaustion is referred to as Caregiver
Burnout.
When a person reaches
this stage, no matter how compassionate, caring or loving they may be, many
begin to feel detached and become unable to continue to give good care to
themselves or their loved one.
Being able to cope
with the strains and stresses of being a Caregiver is part of the art of
Caregiving. In order to remain healthy and happy so that we can continue to be
good Caregivers, we must be able to see our own limitations and learn to care
for ourselves as well as others.
Burnout isn’t like a
cold. You don’t always notice it when it is happening. The following are
symptoms we might notice in ourselves, or others might say they see in us.
·
Withdrawal from family
and other loved ones.
·
Loss of interest in
activities once enjoyed.
·
You feel furious one
minute, sad and helpless the next.
·
You can’t remember the
last time you met a friend for dinner or a movie.
·
You catch every bug
that comes your way.
·
Increase in use of
stimulants and alcohol.
·
Change in eating
patterns – loss of appetite or overeating.
·
Change in sleeping
patterns.
·
Ongoing and constant
fatigue.
·
Feelings of depression
or helplessness.
Caregiver burnout is
real. As a Caregiver Advocate, I see it day in and day out. I have had many
adult men and women walk in my office and breakdown in tears. Many people come
to my support groups just to chat because they don’t want to burden their
family members or show any weakness that they are having difficulty caring for
their loved one.
There is help. YOU ARE
NOT ALONE!
To contact Linda for support or a speaking engagement, call 727-365-8383