Caregiving; detrimental to your health.

Caregiving seems like a forever process without a break. Days roll into weeks, that roll into months, that roll into years and sometimes decades. Is it not surprising that caregivers burnout. 21 months into caregiving it is reported that caregivers seek medication for sleep and or headaches; 24- months finds caregivers drained; 32 months stress is harder to conceal and this is the time caregivers often start on anti-depressants; 38 months its harder to keep up a daily routine; 60 months is associated with chronic fatigue. So what do friends, family, and care professionals tell us to do? Take a break, get a facial, take a bubble bath, join a support group – all good suggestions but temporary because when the task is accomplished, we return to where we were before.

So what is a caregiver to do? This is a question I have struggled with over the years, as I am sure you have. I would love to hear what you do. For me, I joined a support group and found it immensely helpful, learned to say no people/engagements etc. that would add stress to my life, learned to ask for what I needed and be clear about it, and finally became the “good enough” caregiver. More about that next week.