When you are caring for someone, you may already know everything there is to know about his or her health. In fact, as caregivers, we can safely assume that we are experts on caring for the well-being of a person. After all, our patient will not continuously praise us if we do not know a thing or two about giving care.
That is not the case all the time. We may know how to help and assist our clients, but mind you, this knowledge can be tossed in the garbage once it comes to taking care of our own self. Once you care for someone, you will eventually neglect your own needs. The concluding effect of neglecting your own needs will lead you to caregiver burnout.
But we do not want that, do we? That is why Comfort Care Home Health Care in Stony Island Chicago Illinois is going to share with you 4 signs of caregiver burnout that you need to watch out for:
- Sign #1: You easily get angry at everyone.
In our line of work, we are prone to overreacting. We cannot help it, especially when we feel helpless and overwhelmed by our duties and responsibilities as a caregiver. Once this happens, we snap at everything and everyone, cursing events and people who annoy us. In this point in time, we need a time out.
That is why we should not set our standards too high that we will not be able to reach it. Go call your friends and family members. You only need to voice out your everyday frustrations. To be successful and feel less stressful at work, you need to practice organization. Stick to routine activities and prioritize your must-do list.
- Sign #2: You easily get sick.
When you are stressed, you do not just feel down all the time. It can also affect your overall well-being. Your immune system then pays the price. When the immune system dwindles, getting sick will be as easy as breathing. After noticing that you are getting sicker longer and more often than usual, be alarmed.
In response to this, you need to go to your annual checkups. Ask the help of your dentist and doctor. Go for immunization and other medical screenings you need. Lastly, do the oldest tricks taught to you in school and in the books: eating nutritious food and getting 7 hours of sleep. This will naturally boost your immune system.
- Sign #3: You turn into an emotional mess.
When ladies have their period, they experience and feel a lot of different emotions all at the same time. They want to get angry at someone in one point in time, and then feel sad and helpless after.
Such state is present when you are experiencing caregiver burnout. We call it being an emotional mess. It is also like riding in an emotional roller coaster ride of care giving. You easily get overwhelmed, and then feel an extreme emotion such as anger, sadness, and many more.
How do we give a solution to this problem? We suggest that you check with your doctor first to know if you have an underlying medical condition. Tell your doctor everything, including your line of work. Lastly, cheer yourself up. Tell yourself that you are currently doing everything, and you will also do so in the future.
- Sign #4: You cannot remember the last time you had fun with people or yourself.
Care giving is a demanding job. It may even be the most difficult one you will have. But we are humans, and because of this fact, we need to give ourselves a break. This break does not have to be expensive. You can go with your friends and/or family to the theater or someplace fun like an amusement park. Treat yourself to a spa or have fun at the amusement park.
There is always a solution for caregiver burnout. And once you have a pile of tasks to do, know that this is not the end of your world.
Disclaimer
Blogs, content and other media uploaded online are for informational purposes only. Contents on this website should not be considered medical advice. Readers are strongly encouraged to visit their physician for health-related issues.
