Serving as caregiver is the ultimate way to show how much you love someone, particularly if it is an elderly parent. However, the daily schedule of caregiving can wear a person out to the point of burnout. Do you know what burnout to a caregiver means? It means a shift in your personal paradigms – from upbeat and concerned to pessimistic and even resentful. Burnout causes emotional, mental and physical exhaustion which is the result of too much work without the necessary relief to from others to shoulder the burden of caregiving. If you are burned out, you may feel depressed, anxious about life and even overtired. Guilt is also a commonality among caregivers who burnout.

Identifying the Symptoms of Burnout

Caregiver burnout manifests itself in a variety of ways in your life and you may or may not realize you have it. There are some things to keep an eye out for:

1. Withdrawal from the very things that once made you happy such as hobbies and visiting with family and friends.

2. Your weight may fluctuate due to your erratic appetite. Some people may turn to food for companionship and solace and pack on the pounds whereas you might lose your appetite for food because it upsets your digestive system.

3. Sleep changes too and you might be too anxious to get but a few hours of sleep a night or you may sleep the entire day way, waking only to eat and go to the bathroom.

4. Irritability is a problem and can bleed into other areas of your life such as being indifferent to your family or overly sensitive.

5. Burnout can create total physical exhaustion and even bodily pain in the joints, muscles and also headaches.

6. Overwhelming feelings of guilt or wishing to harm yourself or even your loved one is common.

Reasons for Caregiver Burnout

When you spend so much time caring for your sick loved one as well as your spouse and children and even friends, you have nothing left for yourself. You end up neglecting your physical, emotional and mental health. With so many demands on your time, you need to take better care of yourself but that often may not happen. Other reasons for burnout include:

1. Role reversals – Your ailing loved one was once someone else to you – whether a friend, spouse or parent – so it can be hard to separate what once was with what is now. Indeed, it is tough on both parties when roles are switched so it can cause confusion and identity issues.

2. Perceived loss of control – Let’s face it … caregiving can throw your life for a loop. All of the sudden there are extra demands on your time, money and even physical abilities. Everything typically happens at once, making it seems as you have no control over the situation.

3. Too demanding – Caregivers are often hard on themselves because they do not feel they are doing all they can. If you are doing this, chances are you feel too much responsibility.

Preventing Burnout

The first step in preventing burnout is to know you cannot do it all on your own. Talk with someone you trust whether it is a close friend, spouse or even minister about it. Set goals for yourself and your ailing loved one and enlist help so that you can take breaks, even if it is for a walk in the park for fresh air. Be realistic about your loved one’s condition. Sometimes, you can only do so much before institutionalization is necessary.

Create a schedule for each day and pencil yourself in. If you write down to take a nice long bath or call a friend on the phone, you are less likely to put it off. Care about yourself so that you can do your best for your loved one. Know when to ask for help and arm yourself with as much knowledge as possible about your loved one’s condition so you know what to expect. Seek backup care such as home health care agencies, nursing homes, adult daycares or even an assisted living facility.

Most importantly, take care of yourself. Eat a nutritious diet, get some exercise and indulge in your favorite hobbies when possible. Seek out support groups if you start feeling as you are alone in this whole caregiving business. You could have help at your fingertips – you just have to know when to ask.