Virtually everyone who cares for a family member with confront the reality of facing burnout. However, by educating yourself, honestly assessing your attitude, carving out time for yourself and taking practical steps each day, you can recognize the signs and address caregiver burnout earlier. Here are 12 tips to help:
- Learn the Signs. You can’t avoid what you can’t recognize, so become familiar with the signs of burnout. These include: Physical symptoms, such as headaches, stomach aches, persistent fatigue, or weight gain or loss; emotional symptoms, such as numb or explosive responses, feeling low self esteem, withdrawal, or an increase in drug, alcohol, caffeine and tobacco use and/or use of prescription drugs; mental symptoms, such as feeling bored and somewhat lifeless, changes in memory or the ability to concentrate, excessive worrying or disinterest in activities you usually enjoy; and social symptoms, such as withdrawal from friends, family and society or reduced personal hygiene.
- Look at the Positive. Avoiding burnout has a lot to do with attitude. It helps if you do not view caregiving as an obligation or chore. When you enjoy a sense of personal fulfillment from your role, and when you focus on what you do have rather than on what you’ve lost, it’s easier to maintain a positive attitude.
- Be Realistic. Since “the familiar” no longer exists, don’t let unknown or unrealistic expectations contribute to burnout. Be realistic each and every day about what you can accomplish to reduce frustration.
- Educate Yourself. Become educated about the disability or disease from which your loved one suffers and about caregiving. The more you know, the more confident and effective you will be in handling responsibilities and ensuring the safety of your loved one. Here’s a free online resource that might help.
- Surround Yourself with Others. Burnout may intensify when there appears to be no one who understands what you are going through or who will support you in ways that are helpful to you. This includes sharing as many caregiving responsibilities as possible.
- Live in the Moment. Appreciate where you are and where your loved one is at this time. Make a plan. Having a plan related to daily living and long-term care helps effectively deal with the frustration, depression and sense of hopelessness that is typical of burnout. Share as many of these responsibilities as possible.
- Develop Coping Strategies. Review the strategies you have used before in other situations and assess their value to you now. Does taking a walk around the block or doing yoga help relieve stress?
- Keep Roles in Perspective. As a caregiver for a parent in Olympia, it is wise to recognize that your roles do not reverse. Your parent remains your parent, and, like all people, deserves to be treated with respect, even if you are in charge of feeding or bathing him or her.
- Concentrate on Your Own Health. Eat healthfully, exercise daily, get sleep, journal or do other creative therapies to express emotions.
- Join a Support Group. Support groups provide an outlet for your emotions and are also a good way to learn tips from other caregivers in Olympia.
- Make an Activity Plan. Build on your loved one’s remaining strengths and do some activities together that are enjoyable—from looking at old photo albums to listening to musical icons. The activities may be simple, but simple pleasures are worth so much when you are a caregiver.
- Use Respite Care. Even the most loving and giving person will experience some level of fatigue. You need to take a break and recharge your batteries. Use Respite Care services from a licensed, professional agency like FirstLight Home Care – South Sound to make time for some activities that bring you joy.
Laugh whenever you can, use the caregiver experience to learn about yourself and grow as a result, and take other steps to care for yourself—without feeling guilty.
Source: Care Crossroads