Recognizing and Coping With Caregiver Burnout
Take a few minutes to assess your caregiver stress through the checklist below, as well as how your caregiving is affecting others in your family - your children and/or your partner.
These are some serious warning signs that you are over your limit and need to take care of your own health.
Physical |
You have less and less energy. | Social |
You are preoccupied with being a caregiver but feel little satisfaction. | ||
| Sleeping doesn't relieve feelings of exhaustion. | You have less and less social contact. | ||||
| Little things take enormous effort. | You have less and less desire for social contact | ||||
| You frequently have difficulty sleeping | You have feelings of emptiness. | ||||
| You're frequently ill with colds/ flu or use medication/alcohol more often. | Your family relationships are strained. | ||||
Emotional |
You've lost your sense of humour. | Self-Care |
You feel more and more disorganized. | ||
| You have mood swings, and crying spells. | You have no time for your own needs, including sexual. | ||||
| You feel increasingly sad, impatient, frustrated, resentful. | You ignore your own needs. | ||||
| You worry about the future/ feel overwhelmed. | You are unable to eat or rest even when help is available. | ||||
Anyone can have an "off" day when fatigue or mental strain result in a less than patient approach to caregiving. If the signs and symptoms you have checked occur regularly or are increasing, the person you care will sense your distress and feel like a burden. Your goal is to provide good care. This includes looking at other options when you can't do it all.
- Take steps to relieve your workload and find new ways to cope.
- A much-needed vacation, family help and/or regular use of a community service such as Respite Care or a Volunteer Visitor, or may help you regain control over your own health needs and your caregiving role.
- Stress management counselling and joining a support group can help you apply new coping styles.
Peel Public Health for information on these and other community resources.
Looking after yourself, as well as those in your care, is not being selfish - it's being wise.
Getting help to prevent burnout
Questions frequently asked by caregivers
