What Is Burnt Out Caregiver Syndrome? 7 Signs To Identify This Situation

Caring for a loved one who cannot be completely independent is a challenge even for the most resilient people. Family members who actively care for an older adult may end up suffering from the so-called burnt out caregiver syndrome How to avoid it and what to do about it?

What is caregiver burnout syndrome?

A caregiver refers to a person who helps another person with their medical and personal needs. Unlike a paid healthcare worker, the caregiver They usually have a personal relationship with the person who requires this attention. Typically, the person cared for is a family member or friend with a chronic illness, a disabling condition, or an older adult who cannot care for themselves.

In this way, the caregiver usually helps with daily activities such as preparing meals, with personal hygiene needs or carrying out certain medical tasks that the disabled person requires. Although being a caregiver for someone you love can be very rewarding, the reality is that it is also exhausting and frustrating. Often the caregiver You may be burned out, which means experiencing constant fatigue and frustration.

When we talk about burnt out caregiver syndrome We refer to that person who feels overwhelmed and is physically, emotionally and mentally exhausted both by the stress and the ‘burden’ that caring for a loved one can entail. In fact, caregivers often feel alone, unsupported or unappreciated because of it. Often, a burned out caregiver can suffer from depression because they ‘forget’ to take care of themselves due to the consequences of spending a lot of time caring for the dependent family member. Almost all caregivers experience burnout at some point. If it happens and is not addressed, the caregiver eventually becomes unable to provide good care to the person they are caring for.

Signs of caregiver overload

There are a series of signs that may indicate that a caregiver may be burned out in this situation. Being aware of them can help you know when to take steps to control or prevent the stress you are experiencing. We can highlight the following symptoms of caregiver burnout syndrome :

1. Anxiety : The burned person When caring for a dependent family member or friend, you may experience anxiety due to all the work you must do.
2. Avoid socializing: People who suffer from caregiver overload They end up abandoning their social life because of all the work involved in caring for another person.
3. Depression : He burned caregiver You may experience a depressive disorder because you forget to take care of yourself, both physically and mentally.
4. Continuous fatigue : The caregiver work overload It can cause chronic fatigue.
5. Irritability : The perceived stress due to all the tasks that must be performed can cause an irritable state in the person burned out by this situation.
6. Loss of interest : He burnt out caregiver syndrome It can also affect hobbies or activities that were enjoyed before providing this help to a dependent family member.
7. Physical pains: In addition to suffering psychological symptoms, people who suffer from burnt out caregiver syndrome They may end up experiencing frequent headaches, body aches, increased or decreased appetite, or even insomnia.

As exhaustion progresses and depression and anxiety increase, the caregiver may end up turning to certain substances such as alcohol or drugs to relieve the symptoms related to this situation. For this reason, it is essential that in the face of signs of caregiver burnout syndrome people go to a mental health professional to deal with this situation.

How to prevent caregiver burnout syndrome?

It is important to recognize all the warning signs before burnt out caregiver syndrome In addition to going to a psychologist when faced with these signs, there are also some tips you can do to take care of yourself and prevent exhaustion derived from these situations:

• Ask others for help: On many occasions, the person burned out by caring for the dependent family member tries to cover all the tasks themselves. It is important to remember that you must ask friends or family to help you do everything.
• Ask for emotional support : If you feel overwhelmed by all the work overload What it means to take care of another person, you should share it with both friends and family. Repressing these feelings can contribute to feeling overwhelmed.
• Be honest with yourself: It is vital to learn to know how far you go physically and emotionally. Therefore, you should plan the tasks that you can perform and delegate the rest to other people.
• Talk to other caregivers : Talking to people who are in the same situation will help you get support and motivation to deal with the situation. caregiver overload
• Take breaks: Allow yourself to disconnect on the days you need to. Breaks help relieve the stress that work can bring. burnt out caregiver syndrome and restore your energy.
• Don’t abandon your social life: In this situation it is crucial not to avoid meeting friends. The reason for this is that social gatherings avoid feeling isolated.
• Pay attention to your feelings and needs: It’s easy to forget to take care of their needs when you’re taking care of someone else, but you should set aside time to take care of both your rest and your needs.

Keeping both your mind and body healthy is essential for both your well-being and that of your loved one. Therefore, given the symptoms of caregiver burnout syndrome It is important to go to a professional psychologist as soon as possible. You should never forget to take care of yourself first to be able to be good with others.