As a selfless family caregiver, you’re amazing, diligent, and resilient. Yet over time, stress from the daily challenges you face may build. If you feel utterly weary and disheartened, you could be approaching a state of burnout. Here are signs of this depleting condition and how to avoid it.

Physical Clues

Feeling washed out and run down
Difficulty relaxing
Frequent illness due to impaired immunity
Changes in appetite with resultant weight gain or loss
Compounded medical problems
Unusual pains, such as stomachaches or headaches
Self-neglect due to busyness or apathy
Sleeping excessively or having difficulty sleeping

Emotional Symptoms

Mood swings
Constant worry or panic attacks
Irritability
Feeling depressed or hopeless
Resenting caring for your loved one
Turning to drugs or alcohol for emotional comfort
A worsening smoking habit

Mental Indicators

Having no interest in activities you previously enjoyed
Isolating yourself, withdrawing from friends and family
Difficulty concentrating
Getting severely flustered by mild annoyances and inconveniences
Neglecting important responsibilities
Low self-esteem

Having the help of a home caregiver can offer you a huge amount of relief. Caring for a senior loved one can be rewarding, but it can also be overwhelming for family caregivers who have other responsibilities they need to focus on. For these families, the perfect solution is respite care. Livingston families rely on our caregivers whenever they need time to rest, work, run errands, and even go on vacation.

Reasons for Caregiver Burnout

To halt an impending meltdown, it helps to understand the causes. This way, you can regard yourself with kindness and regain your composure.
For instance, your loved one’s health might be failing despite your excellent care. In that case, it’s normal to feel anxiety, depression, or hopelessness. Still, your efforts make a huge difference in your loved one’s comfort.
Juggling responsibilities without breaks will drain you, provoking the physical signs of burnout. Common signs are insomnia, total exhaustion, atypical pains, and becoming sick more often.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your caregiving responsibilities, you don’t have to manage everything on your own. Seniors can face a variety of age-related challenges. Though some families choose to take on the caregiving duties, there may come a time when they need a trusted homecare provider. Families sometimes need respite from their duties so they can focus on their other responsibilities, and some seniors need around-the-clock assistance that their families are not able to provide. Assisting Hands Home Care is here to help.

How to Manage Caregiver Stress

Pressure can stem from thinking you’re alone in your caregiving role. So can resentment. Yet there are plenty of supportive resources available to you. Additionally, you can practice many grounding strategies. Below are ways to stay afloat.

Recognize Your Limits and Ask for Help

Evaluate what you can do without getting overloaded. Then reach out to others for assistance in sharing the caregiving responsibilities.

One way is by calling a home care agency and hiring a personal caregiver for your loved one. You can also request help from family members, friends, and neighbors. Many churches and synagogues provide transportation services through their members. Some also deliver meals.

Join a Caregiver Support Group

By doing this, you’ll gain coping skills and tips from fellow caregivers. Meanwhile, bonding with them will build your confidence and empower you. Here are six national caregiver support groups and their website addresses.

Caregiver Action Network – https://www.caregiveraction.org/

The Alzheimer’s Association – https://www.alz.org

AgingCare’s Caregiver Forum – https://www.agingcare.com/caregiver-forum

Family Caregiver Alliance – https://www.caregiver.org/connecting-caregivers/support-groups/

National Stroke Association – https://www.stroke.org/en/stroke-support-group-finder

American Parkinson Disease Association – https://www.apdaparkinson.org/resources-support/for-caregivers/

Consider Counseling

If your situation or emotions are overwhelming, speak with a professional therapist, who will listen attentively and give you techniques for managing stress. To find a qualified counselor, refer to the website of your healthcare insurance provider. By choosing a therapist in your plan, you can reduce or eliminate your out-of-pocket costs.

Focus on Your Physical Health, Keeping Yourself Strong

Here are basic practices that will help you feel good:

In the morning, take at least 15 minutes of quiet time to gear up for the day. Consider using it to meditate, pray, or read an inspirational book.

Next, prepare a to-do list, helping you stay organized and focused. Still, when the unexpected occurs, try to flow with the change in your plans.

Ensure you get three nutritious meals and two snacks daily. Also, drink plenty of water throughout the day.

Try to exercise for 20 minutes at least three times per week. Moderate activity stimulates the production of endorphins, brain chemicals that ease pain and tension while inducing joy.

Aim for seven to eight hours of sleep nightly.

Reserve Time for Relaxation

Calming activities will revive and sustain your energy. Here are several that might be new for you:

Savor a cup of chamomile tea
Spend time in nature
Listen to soothing music
Dabble in a hobby
Absorb yourself in coloring
Stretch your body while breathing deeply
Watch a sitcom
Soak in a fragrant bath
Fill a scent diffuser with lavender or rose essential oil

Also, sprinkle 15-minute breaks throughout your day. For example, while your loved one naps, take a walk or call a friend.

Reflect on Five Things for Which You’re Grateful Daily

A positive outlook promotes mental and emotional stability. Especially uplifting is journaling. Take a few minutes daily to record special moments. Also, keep an account of various people you appreciate and cherish. By noting what’s great about your life, you’ll feel more balanced. In turn, you can tackle the challenges of caregiving with optimism and fortitude.

If you’re experiencing caregiver burnout, consider looking for a professional caregiver who’s compassionate, reliable, and experienced in senior home care. One of the most challenging tasks of helping an elderly relative age in place safely and comfortably is researching agencies that provide Home care. Livingston families can turn to Assisting Hands Home Care for reliable, high-quality in-home care for aging adults. We offer 24-hour live-in care for seniors who require extensive assistance, and we also offer respite care for family caregivers who need a break from their caregiving duties. Whether your parent needs hourly or live-in care, give us a call at (973) 406-4733 today.