Caregiving requires much time and can be demanding. It is important to recognize the signs of stress in yourself or someone you care about. The following are typical signs of caregiver stress.
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Denial about the disease the person cared for has
This is having unrealistic expectations of recovery for the person being cared for.
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Anger at the person being cared for
Patience wanes, and anger erupts at things that the people being cared for are not able to do.
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Social withdrawal
One can be so consumed with caring for the person, that the caregiver can lose touch with their friends and families. The caregiver no longer does things they once enjoyed.
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Anxiety
Caregivers feels worried about facing another day, unsure of how they will be able to handle it.
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Depression
Feelings of sadness and hopelessness begin to surface. Self-blaming begins.
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Exhaustion
Caregivers feel overwhelmed with all the tasks that you must face on a daily basis. They feel you don’t have much energy left.
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Insomnia
A caregiver may have nightmares or wake up in the middle of the night or are not able to sleep at all. This leads to not feeling refreshed in the morning.
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Lack of concentration
Focusing on complex tasks can be difficult when stressed.
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Physical symptoms
These include shortness of breath, knot in the throat, stomach cramps, chest pains, headaches.
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Negative coping mechanisms
Stress can lead to negative ways of coping such as compulsive eating, excessive alcohol consumption and increasing smoking.
General Resources:
California Foundation for Independent Living Centers
