You’ve noticed a change in your mood and temperament. Your bright spirit is dim. Avoiding social interaction has become part of your daily routine. Happiness no longer compliments your face. You feel lonely and secluded, almost depressed. Caregiving duties are still being completed but not with the same vigor and enthusiasm. Your fast-thinking logic has been replaced with slow what-if’s. Sound familiar? Most caregivers can identify and empathize with these feelings. These mixed emotions are warning signs of caregiver stress. Ignoring these symptoms will result in caregiver burnout. Trust me, I know. Yes, there are ways you can prevent caregiver stress, but how can a caregiver recover from burnout while still providing care?
You’re overwhelmed, stressed, and on the verge of throwing in the towel. I CAN’T DO THIS ANYMORE! But walking out the door is not an option; you must continue the daily care regimen. The patient’s well-being is dependent on you. Once you begin manifesting thoughts of defeat, you’ve entered the caregiver burnout phase. Burnout will cause a decline in your mental and physical health. This decline will result in subpar care for your loved-one. It’s the “trickle-down” effect and it begins with you.
You’ve diagnosed yourself with caregiver burnout. How can you reverse its effects and still provide quality care? You can’t do it on your own. If you’re suffering from burnout, you must voice your thoughts and opinions to family members, friends, or the attending physician. Reaching out is not admitting defeat. You’re recognizing the need for third party help in order to successfully care for your patient.
Instate a dependable support group to help with caregiving duties. Recovery involves alleviating some of the daily stress that contributed to your mental and physical burnout. Discuss ways they can help YOU cope with caregiver stress. Don’t be shy! Designate daily caregiving duties to dependable family members and friends. Don’t know where to start when assigning caregiving responsibilities? Read, How to Help a Caregiver.
Reaching the burnout phase takes time….it doesn’t happen overnight. It sneaks up on you. It’s difficult to recognize the symptoms of caregiver stress because your engaged and focused on providing quality care for your loved-one. Ideally, a caregiver would never suffer from stress or burnout. However, it’s part of caregiving’s brutal reality. Trying to combat mental and physical exhaustion while still maintaining a stable environment is extremely difficult without proper support. Being overwhelmed results in the deterioration of quality care.
The most effective strategy for recovering from caregiver burnout while still caregiving is ASK FOR HELP. Without help the everyday stress of your monotonous daily routine will continue to wreak havoc on your own health, creating a less-than satisfactory caregiving environment. Ultimately you want the best possible care for your loved-one. Allow them good quality care by taking the initiative to engage others in your caregiver duties. Reaching out will bring success to your burnout recovery and allow you to continue your caregiving journey. Did you find this post helpful? Let me know by leaving a comment. Feel free to share this post with anyone who could benefit from the information. Thank you for reading and stay well!
