Indeed, family caregivers, while struggling to adjust to new responsibilities and roles [5], may experience negative psychological outcomes that include new or worsening depression, anxiety, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms [6].
Many caregivers suffering from PTSD report aches and pains that won't go away. Additionally, many experience headaches and thoughts of hopelessness. They feel unable to move forward. Many caregivers detach from their families and friends, feeling numb, empty, and guilt-ridden.
Caregiver PTSD (particularly for family caregivers) is a prevalent mental health condition that impacts many people who are caregivers for elderly relatives, terminally ill relatives or other family members.
Whether it is the sudden heart attack, stroke, diagnosis of a cognitive disorder etc., many caregivers begin their journey in the wake of a traumatic event to a loved one that leaves them reeling and experiencing many of the symptoms of PTSD to include: Unwanted upsetting memories. Nightmares. Flashbacks.
Caregiver stress syndrome or burnout is defined as a state of emotional, mental, or physical exhaustion that can affect that person's ability to give care. After all, serving as a caregiver is highly demanding, making it difficult for the one providing care to tend to their own needs first.
Caregiving often results in chronic stress, which comprises caregiver's physical psychological health. Depression is one of the common negative effects of caregiving. Caring for a person with dementia is particularly challenging, causing more severe negative health effects than other types of caregiving.
Stress – Taking care of a loved one and being responsible for their health can be very stressful. There are a lot of tasks to juggle, from managing medications to helping with getting dressed or bathing. If you're feeling stressed, try to set aside little breaks throughout the day.
Caregiver burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion. It may go along with a change in attitude -- from positive and caring to negative and unconcerned. Burnout can happen when you don't get the help you need, or if you try to do more than you're able -- either physically or financially.
The symptoms of caregiver burnout are similar to the symptoms of stress and depression. They include: Withdrawal from friends, family and other loved ones. Loss of interest in activities previously enjoyed.
Caregiver depression may result from the many challenges involved in taking care of someone who is ill. Part of the stress caregivers may feel can stem from concerns over a loved one's safety, personality changes, and health concerns. Self-care measures may help a person cope and prevent depression.
Caregiving is hard — and can lead to feelings of stress, guilt, anger, sadness, isolation — and depression. Depression affects different people in different ways and at different times.
Signs such as avoiding the loved one, anger, fatigue, depression, impaired sleep, poor health, irritability or that terrible sense that there is “no light at the end of the tunnel” are warnings that the caregiver needs time off and support with caregiving responsibilities.
Unfortunately, there's no one answer to how long feelings of burnout will last. Caregiver burnout results from the stress built up over months and even years. It rarely comes on suddenly and won't leave that way either. If you can get the support you and your loved one need, it will get better, though.
Alterations in arousal and reactivity: Arousal and reactive symptoms may include being irritable and having angry outbursts; behaving recklessly or in a self-destructive way; being overly watchful of one's surroundings in a suspecting way; being easily startled; or having problems concentrating or sleeping.
Caregivers with discordant levels of stress and strain (i.e., low perceived stress/high strain) compared with low stress/low strain had the shortest RTL (difference = −0.24; P = 0.02, Pinteraction = 0.13), corresponding to approximately 10–15 additional years of aging.
Caregivers often find they have less time for themselves and other family members. They often spend so much time on caregiving duties that they end up sacrificing the things they enjoy, like hobbies or vacations. Or, they have trouble balancing work schedules around caregiving. Emotional and physical stress.
Caregiving can also result in feeling a loss of self identity, lower levels of self esteem, constant worry, or feelings of uncertainty. Caregivers have less self-acceptance and feel less effective and less in control of their lives than noncaregivers.
Depression and mental health problems are consistently higher among caregivers than among their non-caregiving peers. This is particularly true for caregivers who are charged with helping someone with cognitive decline. Studies show that 30 to 40% of dementia caregiver suffer from both depression and emotional stress.
You are free—as if there is no cost to your time or the emotional and physical stress you experience as the result of caregiving for your aging parent. The beliefs and refusals of parents to agree to a caregiver, other than you, is another reason why caregiving is so exhausting.
Watch for these symptoms of compassion fatigue
Feeling helpless, hopeless or powerless. Feeling irritable, angry, sad or numb. A sense of being detached or having decreased pleasure in activities. Ruminating about the suffering of others and feeling anger towards the events or people causing the suffering.