Caregiver Stress: Symptoms and Solutions

Have you ever heard the old saying: “What makes you strong also makes you weak”? This could not be more accurate concerning the role of caregiver. The love, care and commitment to caring for another person is what makes caregivers so special. These, too, are the very sources of caregiving stress. Providing so much time and energy in this role can lead to multiple emotional, psychological and physical problems.

Caregivers, at times, sacrifice their own well-being for their care recipient’s needs. It’s no wonder that many caregivers experience stress, burnout and even depression. Many challenges face today’s caregiver, including coping with loss on a regular basis. It can become easy to forget one’s own health and well-being, and taking a vacation may alleviate stress for only a short time. Even more important is a healthy lifestyle and stress management.

Who is at Risk for Caregiver Stress?

Simply being female puts you at a greater risk for caregiver stress. There are more female caregivers for many reasons, including the fact that there are more women in our country, and traditional gender roles have added to the push factor of becoming a caregiver. Having fewer years of formal education, living with the person you care for, and lacking healthy coping skills can put you at a higher risk for caregiver stress. Financial problems, social isolation, the number of hours spent caregiving and a pre-existing depression can put you at an even higher risk.

Symptoms

Women tend to know their bodies more than men do, and seem to pay attention to signs and symptoms of many potential conditions. This is nature’s way of protecting the caregiver. Signs and symptoms to be aware of include:

• Feeling overwhelmed
• Constantly worrying
• Feeling fatigued most of the time
• Changes in sleep patterns
• Changes in appetite
• Weight gain or loss
• Becoming easily angered or irritated
• Losing interest in activities and hobbies

There are other symptoms to watch for such as feeling sad most of the time and having difficulties with relationships. You may feel like a failure, or that you no longer make a difference. Some people are longer satisfied with their caregiving role. They may have cared to the point where they no longer care. This, unfortunately, can be a sign of burnout.

Sometimes stress leads to frequent headaches, muscle pain or gastrointestinal distress. It can also depress the immune system, leading to more frequent cold and flu-like symptoms. Stress can lead to more dangerous behaviors such as personality changes, impatience, neglect, abuse and mistreatment of the care-recipient. Still more serious, caregiver stress can lead to self-medicating with alcohol and illegal or prescription drugs. Misuse or over-use of prescription drugs is a rather common problem in our society to begin with, and being a caregiver may put the individual at a higher risk for drug abuse.
Managing Stress
Thankfully, there are many ways you can prevent, reduce, or alleviate symptoms of caregiver stress. It is important that you listen to your body and pay close attention to your emotional needs. As we have seen, stress can cause a lot of problems in our lives. When the going gets rough, sometimes the best medicine is simplifying our lives and go back to the basics.

Healthy living can be achieved by returning to 3 priorities:

1. Rest
2. Exercise
3. Healthy Eating

Reaching out to family, friends or colleagues for support, engaging in relaxing activities, or doing something special for yourself can take the edge off of caregiver stress. Starting each day as a new beginning, engaging in positive thinking, and establishing daily breaks for yourself can also help. Sometimes, simply slowing down for a while is very healing. Take time to re-evaluate where you are in life. Do you have good work-life balance? Are you on track with your life and work goals? Are you in control of caregiving or is it in control of you?

Final Words

Caregiving is a noble and selfless role and not everyone is cut out for it. It takes a very kind, patient and loving person to provide care. The very kindness, patience and love you give may also put you at risk for caregiver stress, burnout or depression. Know the signs and symptoms. Listen to your body – after all, it’s the best doctor you have. Once you recognize the signs, do something and reverse the course. Finally, be resilient. Good caregivers don’t give up – they make the necessary adjustments and keep moving forward.

More About Employee Wellness

• Let’s Talk about… Stress!
• Caregiver Burnout and Depression