Having a job — any job — can be tough at times. The daily grind of deadlines and meetings mixed with sometimes unpleasant bosses or coworkers is enough to make anyone feel stressed.
Caregiving for a loved one is a different kind of job. It’s often one you’re doing on top of other work, and it can be physically and emotionally exhausting.
Both types of work can lead to burnout, but each has its own symptoms — and solutions.
What is caregiver burnout?
When you are solely, or even partly, responsible for the extra care a loved one needs, your own needs typically take a back seat. The daily demands can feel endless, leaving you no time for yourself.
Devoting so much time and energy to someone else’s care can lead to physical and mental exhaustion. Just like job burnout, caregiver burnout can make you feel like you can no longer cope or keep up with the demands.
How caregiver burnout is different from job burnout
While these two conditions share some similarities, they aren’t the same. The biggest difference is that when you’re dealing with job burnout, you often have more options for changing your circumstances.
People experiencing job burnout generally can take steps to improve their work/life balance. This may mean talking to their boss, setting clearer boundaries, taking time off or even finding a new job.
Caregivers have fewer options. There’s no “quitting time,” no paid vacations and very few opportunities to give yourself a real break. The physical, logistical and emotional work of caregiving is often a 24/7 commitment.
Signs of caregiver burnout
Caregiver burnout is real and it can affect your health. Signs that you may be experiencing caregiver burnout include:
- Anxiety and depression
- Changes in appetite or body weight
- Feeling exhausted and overwhelmed
- Headaches
- Irritability
- Loss of interest in social activities and time with friends
- Self-medicating with drugs or alcohol
- Sleep changes
Why you need to take care of yourself too
When you’re emotionally and physically nearing your breaking point, it’s increasingly difficult to care for someone else. Like putting on your own oxygen mask first, you have to care for yourself before you can care for others.
Those overwhelmed by caregiving often neglect their own health, skipping important medical appointments and preventive care. That, combined with the physical and emotional stress, can leave you more vulnerable to illness.
Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. If you are coping with feelings of anxiety, depression, loneliness or guilt, a counselor, mental health professional or support group can help.
The benefits of using respite care
Often, the only way to recover from caregiver burnout is to find ways to take a break. Asking a friend or other family member to step in on occasion can allow you time to yourself to have some fun, relax or just catch up on other responsibilities.
When you need more help than friends and family can provide, respite care offers other options. Respite care can also help cover a gap in care for your loved one — in your home, at a day facility or overnight.
Caregivers can use respite care when they need to travel or when they must be away from the house for work or other commitments. Respite care can also help cover a gap in care when you just need a little time to yourself.
As a caregiver, one of the most important things you can do is take care of your own needs. Try not to let guilt get in the way of self-care. Once you’re burned out, it can be difficult to recharge and be ready to resume your caregiving responsibilities.
