Caregiving Stress:
The Warning Signs
Caring for a loved one
is such demanding work that stress can become a major factor in
coping with the situation. The symptoms you may experience are
similar to the symptoms of depression.
Here are some warning
signs that stress is taking its toll:
--You feel angry or
irritable and just want to deny the whole situation is even
happening.
--You feel as if you
don't have the time or energy to "waste" on pleasant activities, and
you become more isolated.
--You find it hard to
concentrate because you are constantly thinking about your loved
one's needs and what you have to do.
--You feel more and more
depressed.
--Even though you are
exhausted, you have problems sleeping.
-You start to develop
health problems of your own.
You may feel stress for
any number of reasons:
--There are multiple
demands on your time and energy, but you feel as if you should be
doing more.
--Some tasks and
responsibilities are in direct conflict with others, and you're
worried that you can't do it all.
--It seems that everyone
has high expectations of you.
--You don't have the
knowledge you need of aging issues and of your loved one's illness,
so sometimes you don't know what to do.
--You feel you can't
meet the ever-increasing needs of your loved one.
--You have limited
access to the support you need and limited money to cover the costs
of care.
--You feel "stuck" or
"trapped" in the role of caregiving and don't know if you can do it
for much longer.
--You're embarrassed
when you take your care-receiver to appointments or out for dinner.
--You, your
care-receivers and immediate family member don't agree on
everything.
--You feel "put upon"
because of lack of support.
--You feel as if your
life's been taken from you.
--There is a general
lack of communication--with your loved one, his or her doctor, your
immediate family members.
--Your family and
friends express negative attitudes about your role as a caregiver.
--It is hard to watch a
loved one's gradual but progressive decline.
--There are problems in
other parts of your life (work, spouse, children, prior
commitments).
--You miss your own
life, your friends, your privacy.
See
also: Tips for
the Caregiver