Self-Care for Caregivers:
Professional Caregivers

It’s not breaking news that caregiving is among the most stressful, physically and mentally draining jobs you can do. Being responsible for the welfare of another human being— potentially one who is frail and compromised—can be daunting. Shifts can be long and depending on the needs of the client and degree of care involved, the caregiver’s expenditure of energy on a cumulative basis can have a serious impact on his/her health. These may include increasing bouts of exhaustion, depression, and eventually burnout. One analogy compares this to a car, running day in and day out, never turned off.  In time it would just cease to work.  

Additional symptoms of caregiver burnout can include chronic fatigue (no matter how much sleep you get), changes in appetite and/or weight, body aches, anxiety, panic attacks, and migraines, to name a few.  

“I’ve been a caregiver for years,” said Carly P. of Tempe, Arizona, “always giving 150 percent to my job. It was challenging work but I loved it. I just didn’t take stock of what was happening to me until I ended up in my doctor’s office, trying to figure out where these migraines were coming from.” 

So how do you prevent caregiver burnout, especially in light of the constant demands of the job? 

Groups 

Some sources recommend joining a caregiver support group, many of which can now be found online. Though most are geared toward family caregivers, you may be able to find or even start one in the realm of shared support for professional caregivers. Group support can be a welcome resource to better handle the demands of the job. 

Exercise 

Though time can be at issue, the benefits of exercise as a stress release cannot be underestimated. If you can’t get to a gym, schedule in a brisk early morning or evening walk or bike ride—especially with a friend or your own family members along for the fun. If available to you, get out in nature which has a healing power all in itself. Yoga is also a powerful resource for releasing stress and calming nerves and mind. Overall, exercise can be a great escape as it requires a physical expenditure, and you need to focus on what you’re doing than on everything else. Endorphins released by consistent exercise can be attitude changing—even life changing. 

Great Escapes 

Also, is there something you’re good at, and/or good or otherwise simply love to do and when you’re doing it, you lose track of time? For some, it’s reading, creating, or a hobby. For others, it may be volunteering for a cause near and dear to them. Whatever makes your heart soar, invest yourself in it a few times a week or every day if you can. A feeling of joy, accomplishment, and the chemicals they release impact your mental and emotional health and can be long lasting—something you take back to your job which makes it easier to manage the ongoing challenges of being the excellent caregiver you are.