Are you a son or daughter who has to care for your elderly parents? Or, are you a parent who has to care for your sickly child? If so, you understand how physically exhausting this role can be. But what many caregivers neglect is the fact that it can also take a toll on your mental well-being.
The selfless act of spending the better part of your life caring for someone is not easy. And for some family members, being a caregiver also means dealing with the financial strain, family feud and social withdrawal.
All these factors combined can dash your mental health to pieces. If you don’t want to reach your breaking point, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with signs of caregiver stress. More on this below:
3 Signs of Caregiver Stress and Burnout
I’ll split these warning signs into three so that they’re easier to recognize. They include:
Physical Symptoms
When you’re overwhelmed by the role of being a caregiver, the first signs you’ll experience are physical. More specifically, you’ll start experiencing headaches, chronic fatigue, and gastrointestinal problems.
As I explained comprehensively in this article, the gut and brain are connected. So whatever affects your brain is likely to affect your gut health too. Another change you’re likely to notice entails changes in your sleeping patterns.
These symptoms don’t all happen at once. In fact, they develop at such a gradual pace that most caregivers barely notice them. This is why you should be very alert and pay attention to changes you notice in your lifestyle.
Emotional Exhaustion
Another red flag that you’re experiencing caregiver burnout is emotional exhaustion. If you’ve been doing this for a while, you’re probably familiar with the whirlwind of emotions that comes with it.
And what’s interesting is that these feelings run the gamut from hopelessness and sorrow to anger and irritation. When these emotions become so intense that you can barely concentrate on your routine activities, you’re likely experiencing caregiver burnout.
Social Withdrawal
Social withdrawal is another telltale sign that you’re suffering from caregiver stress. Yes, being a caregiver can make it difficult for you to interact with others. However, isolating yourself from friends and family only heightens those feelings of stress and loneliness.
As such, take a deliberate approach to socializing. Join a support group of other caregivers. Invite your relatives over for afternoon tea. Or better yet, enlist the help of another caregiver to stand in for you occasionally so you can meet up with friends.
Coping with Caregiver Stress
Practice Self-Compassion
Learn to give yourself credit for the hard work you do. Resist that inner voice that criticizes your efforts and says that you’re not good enough. Instead, take a break every once in a while to acknowledge your selflessness.
Adopt a Healthy Lifestyle
Another tip for coping with caregiver stress is prioritizing self-care. Take time to prepare and eat healthy meals. Spare time to exercise and sleep for the recommended 7 to 9 hours. This will ensure that you’re physically fit to perform your care-giving duties effectively. As a result, you’ll be more relaxed and less stressed.
Remain Socially Connected
Maintaining social connections is just as important as living healthily. If you’re no longer close with friends or family, consider joining a support group. This will help you feel less lonely and stressed. “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:25)
