Caregiver burnout is a state of emotional, mental and physical exhaustion caused by prolonged stress of taking care of someone else.

Taking on the responsibilities of being a caregiver may be something we have had the time and ability to prepare for, but sometimes a situation may suddenly reduce a loved ones independence and we are unexpectedly in this role. The shock of the sudden change of circumstances may not be processed as the focus on providing care is so immediate.

Caregiving is very natural for many of us and we wouldn't have it any other way, especially when it is a loved one, however at times it can feel like too much. Sometimes the demands of caregiving can push us past our capacity. This is where caregivers burnout starts to take a toll on the caregiver.

Symptoms of caregiver burnout include

Overwhelm - Appointments to manage, the amount of paperwork to apply for support, dealing with different health care providers.

Difficulty making decisions - Anxiety about commiting to a decision.

Emotional toll - Feelings of isolation, hopelessness and helplessness.

Confusion - Conflicting information from different specialists/support providers.

Reduced care for yourself - Decrease in self care and delaying healthcare for yourself.

There are also rewards to caregiving. Many carers find caregiving can create deeper bonds with their loved ones, a sense of purpose and an sense of satisfaction of giving back.

Often caregivers feel guilt about taking time for themselves. Ultimately to maintain medium to long term caregiving a carer needs to ensure they look after themselves to be able to have the capacity to help others.

Counselling can be a great support for carers as it provides a space where they can be heard, reduce stress, have more clarity to make decisions and learn practitical tools for self care. EFT is highly recommended as it reduces cortisol (the stress hormone) and after a few sessions clients are comfortable to use it themselves effectively when distressing moments arise to prevent the build up of stress.

If you're a caregiver looking for support I provide Counselling and EFT sessions via telehealth. You can find the appointment availability through the online bookings link.