Try: Caregiving is a very stressful situation stress either causes or exacerbates some 70 to 90 percent of all medical complaints including tension and migraine headaches high blood pressure asthma nervous stomach bowel problems and chronic lower back pains there is research evidence indicating stress plays a role in a person person’s susceptibility to heart disease stroke and cancer stress has also been implicated in psychological disorders such as anxiety reactions depressions and phobias as well as poor work performance drug and alcohol abuse insomnia and unexplained violence if you are experiencing any of the above it is extremely important that you learn and use various techniques for stress reduction or come to the decision both for your well-being and that of your care receiver that "it is time to stop caregiving " below are some telltale signs which can help you assess when you have reached this fork in the road; seek help professional help utilize more stress reduction methods or stop caregiving snapping at the care receiver constantly even over little things — being constantly irritated seldom laughing anymore feeling constantly tired or pressured losing sleep failing to fall asleep for hours sleeping restlessly all night long yelling or screaming or having crying fits or rages frequently — withholding affection feelings of goodwill from the care-recipient — withholding food baths dressing changes etc constantly blaming the care receiver for your being in this situation his her isolated caregiver refusing to go out anymore even for a walk because "he she needs me " — withholding expenditures for goods or services he she needs because he she is going to die soon and it is wasted money while these are not exclusive they indicate a classic picture of "caregiver burnout " the treatment for caregiver burnout is simple — get help and get away for extended periods either through stress management respite help or through a complete change in caregiving no one can remain a full-time caregiver forever; the job is much too strenuous and stressful the point we wish to set forth is "when should i say this is my limit; i am not able to do any more " be honest with yourself and when "that limit" has been reached stop research alternatives request help from qualified professionals and rest easy because you did the right thing information references "caregiver’s handbook" by the caregiver education and support services seniors counseling and training case management services of the san diego county mental health services no date available at www acsu buffalo edu
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Categories: Sage, Topic, Caregiver Needs&Support, Emotional Psychological
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Keywords: Care giving stress respite burn out
*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed