Recognizing Caregiver Burnout

There are a lot of tips on how to avoid or manage caregiver burnout, but I think recognizing caregiver burnout is another equally important topic. Some of us are caregivers out of love and relationship, and maybe that makes the caregiving process a little easier, at least for a while. Others find themselves in a caregiver position out of necessity. In either situation, being a caregiver is not easy.

Potential warning signs of caregiver burnout

First, what is caregiver burnout? A life that is totally focused on someone else’s well-being can result in stress, anger, poor health, mental and physical exhaustion, among many other ways caregiver burnout can be presented. So, how do you know if you’re burned out as a caregiver? What can you do?

Anger

Do you feel angry all the time? Is your anger focused on your patient, on yourself, or just on life? As I cared for my husband during his surgeries and chemotherapy, he was often angry at the disease, his pain, even me. I sometimes felt that he didn’t realize how much I was doing for him, that he didn’t appreciate the care I was giving, that my being present 100% of the time was to help him, not to anger him.

But I learned that the anger was directed at the situation, not at me. Keeping that in perspective helped me deal with some of the more difficult times, and I think it can help other caregivers, too.

Guilt

Guilt can also be a “symptom” of caregiver burnout. Many caregivers, myself included, feel guilty over time and energy spent on ourselves. I remember the guilt I felt when finding sacred minutes for myself, and that guilt is misplaced and wrong in so many ways. Caregivers need to be caregivers of self, often first. Otherwise we’re not good at caring for anyone else.

Isolation

As a caregiver, do you often feel isolated? I know the feeling but learned the importance of a support team. People offer to help, and we need to accept their help, often explaining exactly what we need. They’re willing, but don’t know what to do. Some of us have family, friends, church members, work colleagues, or support groups that are more than willing to help out. Other times, we need to ask and should not hesitate to do so.

Fatigue

Fatigue can be another symptom of caregiver burnout. We’re all tired from time to time. Life is busy, our responsibilities are numerous, being a caregiver and managing everything else in life is stressful. But when fatigue persists, it may be time to think about what you can do to alleviate it. Being fatigued does not help you, and it doesn’t help your patient.

Don't forget to focus on you

These are only a few of the symptoms to watch for as a caregiver. But I don’t want to leave this article there. Don’t deny yourself time to focus only on you.

Make time to do the things you enjoy, even if for only short periods of time. Watch your diet, nutrition, and exercise. Find potential ways to manage fatigue, guilt, and anger. They’re often a part of the caregiving process, but when they become overwhelming, it may be time to find help. Consider talking to a doctor, counselor, or therapist. The problem here may be that we don’t ask. Help is available.

Educate yourself, too

Another important aspect of helping yourself as a caregiver is knowledge. Educate yourself about your patient’s disease. This may help you understand how they feel, what they’re going through, how you can be more supportive. You may be more comfortable as a caregiver and stress less often about whether you’re doing the right thing. On the other hand, many of us caregivers don’t have a medical background, so know your limits and when you may need to seek help.

Being a caregiver can be a challenge, but it can also be a fulfilling and satisfying role. Helping and caring for someone through the difficult parts of their lives can be rewarding beyond description. But it requires knowledge, expectation, and planning.