Caretakers

Many caregivers benefit from having a trained professional to speak with throughout the caregiving process. Watch for signs that it may be time to seek therapy or counseling. You may feel overwhelmed or utterly exhausted because of: · Anger or frustration: You have a shorter fuse than usual. Even small annoyances get under your skin. · Stress: You feel like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders. Your back hurts, or your stomach is in knots, among other things. · Anxiety: For some reason, your worries have grown. You want to do everything the right way, but sometimes have doubts. · Fear: This is like anxiety in overdrive. You’re afraid you’ll harm your loved one or yourself by making a mistake. Likely falling asleep at the wrong time. · Depression: Some people call it “the blues.” These are new and you can’t shake them. Plus, you feel like crying or wishing you could. · Grief or sadness: This can happen when you anticipate losing the person for whom you are caring. It’s not fair how ill they are or how much they are suffering. · Guilt: This crops up when you just want more time for yourself. You want to go to lunch with friends or linger in your favorite store. It seems selfish to even think that way. · Isolation or loneliness: Even though you know other people are caregivers too, you feel alone. Like nobody else really knows what it’s like to have so much responsibility. And when you try to talk about it, all you get is advice. · Physical strain or exhaustion: Some days it’s an effort to do the simplest tasks. Even the ones you used to love, like baking a favorite treat. Even a full night of sleep won’t take care of how you feel.