Caregiving does not cause depression, nor will everyone who provides care experience the negative feelings that go with depression. An individual may feel like a failure or that people will judge them. But here’s what you need to know. For caregivers, depression is more common than you might think, and it’s a normal response to a difficult situation. In your effort to provide the best possible care for a family member or friend, caregivers often sacrifice their own physical and emotional needs, and the emotional and physical experiences involved with providing care can strain even the most capable person. The resulting feelings of anger, anxiety, sadness, isolation, exhaustion—and then guilt for having these feelings can exact a heavy toll.
Causes of caregiver burnout
Along with the heavy workload and emotional demands of family caregiving, these issues also can contribute to burnout. If the stress of caregiving is left unchecked, it can take a toll on your health, relationships, and state of mind—eventually leading to burnout, a state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion. And when you get to that point, both you and the person you’re caring for suffer.
• Conflicting demands as you try to balance the needs of the care recipient, coworkers and employers, family members, and yourself.
• Lack of control over money and resources and a lack of the skills needed to effectively manage a loved one's care.
• Lack of privacy because caregiving may leave you with little time to be alone.
• Role confusion, difficulty separating your roles as caregiver and as the parent, sibling, or spouse of the care recipient.
• Unreasonable demands placed upon a caregiver by other family members or the person being cared for.
• Unrealistic expectations about the effect caregiving efforts will have on loved ones with progressive diseases such as Parkinson's or Alzheimer's.
Get Help.
If you’re experiencing any of the signs of caregiver depression or feeling a sense of desperation or hopelessness to the point of self-harm or other extreme measures, reach out to a trusted professional in your circle immediately — a family doctor, a therapist, or a support group leader. If you’re experiencing caregiver burnout, fatigue, or depression on any level, reach out today. Counseling can be very effective in the treatment of depression and can help you deal with the problems you are facing. Feeling better takes time. If you are prescribed an antidepressant, talk with your doctor about how long it will take to feel the full benefit. In some cases, it may take six to eight weeks to get into your system. The person in your care needs you to be at your best, and your health is valuable.
Coping Skills
The demands of caregiving can be exhausting and overwhelming. But there are steps you can take to rein in stress and regain a sense of balance, joy, and hope in your life. In addition to seeking help from a professional, you can take these steps to help yourself:
• Let family and friends help you. Take others up on offers to help and ask for help when you need it
• Seek out caregiver support. Consider respite services, a local caregiver support group, or our online community. Building a support network can keep you from feeling isolated.
• Try journaling. Expressing your emotions (both negative and positive) in a journal may boost your mood.
• Learn ways to relax and manage stress. Try meditation or yoga to help reduce caregiver stress.
• Take time for yourself. Participate in activities that you enjoy.