{"id":20441,"date":"2023-04-27T07:00:22","date_gmt":"2023-04-27T12:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/?p=20441"},"modified":"2023-07-19T11:11:33","modified_gmt":"2023-07-19T16:11:33","slug":"coping-with-caregiver-burnout","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/coping-with-caregiver-burnout\/","title":{"rendered":"Coping with Caregiver Burnout"},"content":{"rendered":"

By definition, a caregiver is anyone who provides physical, emotional or social support to someone in need \u2014 whether in a professional or informal capacity. Healthcare workers are considered caregivers in the formal sense, but a great number of caregivers are not employed in any formal capacity. These are the people who care for relatives, spouses, or friends on an unpaid basis. They also make up the majority of caregivers in the United States \u2014 with <\/span>more than 50 million Americans working as unpaid caregivers<\/span><\/a> to friends or family members, according to a 2020 survey.<\/span><\/p>\n

Informal caregivers play a crucial role in supporting the health and well-being of those in need and often make sacrifices to provide care. After all, caregiving is no easy job \u2014 most people in this position do not have professional training or access to specialized equipment, and they must constantly balance the requirements of caregiving with the demands of everyday life.<\/span><\/p>\n

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What it takes to be a caregiver<\/h2>\n

If you self-identify as a caregiver, you know the demands that can go into the job, but you also know the rewards. Caregiving provides a sense of purpose, fosters personal growth and strengthens the relationship you have with the person you\u2019re caring for. The best days are happy and fulfilling, but other days can feel stressful and overwhelming. The latter is especially common if you get so wrapped up in your duties that you start to ignore your own well-being. If you find this to be the case, you\u2019re not alone.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to a recent study by AARP, <\/span>23% of caregivers say that their own health has become worse<\/span><\/a> due to the demands of looking after someone else. On top of the physical burden, there can be serious financial demands that make matters worse. AARP surveys also show that the majority of caregivers have to spend their own money in providing care, and <\/span>about half of the caregivers report serious financial setbacks<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Along with the pressures of health and finances, caregiving can take an emotional toll from day to day. All of this stress can add up quickly, and caregivers who don\u2019t have enough support may find themselves feeling burned out over time.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is caregiver burnout?<\/h2>\n

Caregiver burnout is a prolonged state of exhaustion that can build up due to the demands of caring for another person. Although feelings of fatigue and worry are considered some of the standard emotional swings of caregiving, <\/span>burnout is characterized by long-term feelings of stress<\/span><\/a> that produce physical, emotional and mental health effects.<\/span><\/p>\n

As a caregiver, you may sometimes neglect your own health needs in favor of the person you\u2019re looking after, but experiencing burnout will make you even more likely to suffer negative health effects. In addition, the exhaustion that comes with burnout makes it more difficult to provide quality care, so <\/span>the person you care for might also suffer<\/span><\/a>. If you let the stress build, you may also find additional impacts on relationships with family and friends<\/span><\/p>\n

The consequences of burnout<\/h2>\n

Caregiver burnout is a serious problem and it\u2019s widespread. Surveys from 2021 indicate that <\/span>nearly half of the caregivers experience depression<\/span><\/a>, mood swings or feelings of resentment due to the demands of their role. In this same survey, a similar proportion of people say that caregiving has negatively impacted their relationship with a spouse or partner.<\/span><\/p>\n

These are real consequences of burnout that can happen to anyone, but feelings of burnout might build up slowly over time, and they aren\u2019t always easy to identify at first. That\u2019s why, as a caregiver, it\u2019s important to examine your own situation and deal with any symptoms of burnout before the stress gets out of control.<\/span><\/p>\n

Caregiver burnout vs. compassion fatigue<\/h2>\n

Compassion fatigue is another problem that relates to caregivers, but it\u2019s somewhat distinct from caregiver burnout. While burnout is a form of chronic stress due to a demanding job, <\/span>compassion fatigue is a form of traumatic stress disorder<\/span><\/a> that results from high exposure to other people\u2019s trauma. It\u2019s associated with feelings of hopelessness, pessimism and loss of empathy along with difficulty in carrying out day-to-day tasks.<\/span><\/p>\n

Compassion fatigue is <\/span>considered an occupational hazard<\/span><\/a> because it often affects professionals in fields like psychology, healthcare, emergency response or child services. However, even family members caring for a loved one could experience compassion fatigue in cases of extreme burnout. Because of this, you must identify and treat burnout before it progresses too far.<\/span><\/p>\n

Causes of caregiver burnout<\/h2>\n

Burnout happens when the difficulties of caregiving all add up and start to become overwhelming. The particular challenges will be different depending on the individual and their situation, but common stressors include:<\/span><\/p>\n