Cancer Diary: Spouse Caregiver Burnout

 


I recently came across a wonderful post on Caring Bridge, a site that helps critically ill people and their caregivers establish to communicate with family members (so as not to have to repeat the same information many times). It also has a lot of other ways of providing support and supportive information. Among that information I discovered this great piece that I wish I had seen when I was the stressed-out caregiver for my husband and MSI Press typesetter, Carl Leaver. 

Here is the post. Following the post is a list of 8 tips for managing spouse caregiver burnout -- and boy, are they great, starting with #1, "understand that your feelings are valid." You can read the tips HERE.

What Is Spouse Caregiver Burnout?

Spouse caregiver burnout is a state of exhaustion and stress that can affect people who provide ongoing care to their partner. Also called caregiver stress or caregiver fatigue, it’s something that can affect someone physically, mentally and emotionally.

Unfortunately, spouse caregiver fatigue is both very serious and very common. Caregivers face an increased risk of developing physical and mental health problems ranging from obesity to anxiety.

A survey of caregivers by Blue Cross Blue Shield found that 57% reported high levels of anxiety and depression. Many turn to alcohol, smoking and overeating to cope.

If you’re experiencing spouse caregiver burnout, rest assured that it’s very normal. Many significant others experience burnout in some form. Here’s how to recognize it and what you can do.

Signs of Burnout from Caring for Your Significant Other

Spouse caregiver burnout can affect different people in different ways. Because people are unique, no two experiences are the same. However, there are some common things you can look for. Here are some symptoms of burnout from caring for your partner:

  • Physical fatigue – Some partners experience physical exhaustion from tasks that require physical effort, like lifting and assisting with mobility. Sometimes people carry on through this fatigue they wouldn’t otherwise do if their significant other wasn’t depending on them.
  • Increased irritability – Chronic stress and exhaustion can make caregivers more irritable and prone to conflicts, both with their spouse and with others.
  • Loss of identity – Caring for a partner takes time and is an urgent priority. Partners often give up the things that once made them feel happy and connected. They experience decreased personal time and growing social isolation, often neglecting their own health.
  • Decreased job performance – A caregiver’s responsibilities can impact other parts of their lives, too. They may struggle at work, even if they were once a star employee.

For other Cancer Diary posts, click HERE.

Blog editor's note: As a memorial to Carl, and simply because it is truly needed, MSI Press is now hosting a web page, Carl's Cancer Compendium, as a one-stop starting point for all things cancer, to make it easier for those with cancer to find answers to questions that can otherwise take hours to track down on the Internet and/or from professionals. The CCC is expanded and updated weekly. As part of this effort, each week, on Monday, this blog will carry an informative, cancer-related story -- and be open to guest posts: Cancer Diary. 

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