I feel helpless, I couldn’t take away her pain, I can’t do it anymore…. Are the phrases that often echoes in the mind of a caregiver. It is very important to take care of yourself along with the person who is unwell.
Caregiver fatigue or caregiver burnout is a phenomena that occurs to the primary caregiver (both family and professionals) while taking care of the ailing member. Caregivers often find themselves emotionally, mentally, and physically exhausted. It is accompanied by feeling guilty of doing something for yourself, negative feelings towards the recipient, change in attitude, feeling stressed, low most time, etc.
When we take care of others, our needs take a backseat. As a result, the recipient and caregiver both suffer. Some of the symptoms may indicate caregiver fatigue or burnout are actually withdrawal from your family, friends, and loved ones. Apathy in previously enjoyed activities, feeling fatigued most of the time, reduced empathy, alter sleep pattern, irritable mood, guilty etc.
It is important to be mindful of your need as a caregiver as well. Some of the ways that can help you reduce the burnout are:
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Listen to your body – get proper sleep, eat health, avoid caffeine in odd hours
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Involve in self-care – go for small walks, journal, take some time off to watch/read/listen something you like
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Don’t be alone – build connections, talk to your friends and loved ones
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Find means of coping – organise, saying no, keeping journal, being realistic, ask for help
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Being realistic about the disease, keeping yourself informed about the facts and reality of the disease and acknowledge the severity.
Importance of Professional Counseling: A friend or family member may listen to you, but they aren’t professionally, technically qualified or experienced to offer you professional advice. If you wish you can contact us at MindTribe to receive help from our team of expert psychologists.
About MindTribe.in.
MindTribe Founder Dr. Prerna Kohli, India’s eminent psychologist, established the company to leverage the strength of the online to make counseling affordable and accessible to everyone. MindTribe provides counseling, workshops, support groups, forums, and eLearning.
About the Author.
Drishti Jalan is a psychologist at MindTribe.in. You can learn more about her by clicking here
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of MindTribe.in, the Founders, or management team.
Acknowledgement: All images used are open source and from Unsplash.