At API, we are so proud of the individuals who choose every day to fight against mental health and addiction disorders. The strength and willingness to persevere and embrace a life of recovery is one of the most impressive aspects of working in behavioral health. But there is something to be said for the caregivers who interrupt their daily lives to support loved ones on their health journey.
Caregiving can come in the form of assisting an elderly parent or other family member, ailing friend, or even a neighbor. Ensuring medications are delivered at appropriate times, providing transportation to and from medical appointments, even doing laundry and preparing meals, the list of responsibilities taken on by caregivers is endless. These unsung heroes are often the invisible glue that holds together mental health treatment plans and clear the pathway for success.
In the wake of COVID-19, the work of the at-home caregiver has only multiplied. Sons and daughters find themselves caring for elderly parents unable to leave the house for weekly supplies. Canceled appointments can leave patients grappling with emotional and physical distress only compounding the work to be done. This can leave caregivers open to an extreme form of burnout referred to as compassion fatigue.
What is compassion fatigue?
While typically an occupational hazard associated with nursing, social work, and other healthcare provider positions, it’s not shocking that family caregivers are affected by compassion fatigue as well. To make matters worse, family caregivers don’t have the option of clocking out at the end of the day. They often live with or near their loved ones they care for, preventing any measurable emotional or physical distance from the distress.
The added responsibility of caring for another being may not be the cause of compassion fatigue. Often caregivers may feel helpless when unable to provide little comfort for those in their care. The cumulative stress over the course of months and even years can take its toll on the strongest individuals.
How to recognize compassion fatigue
In short, compassion fatigue is an extreme form of burnout from caregiving duties. Being aware of the signs of both burnout and compassion fatigue are crucial in the role of caring for a loved one.
Symptoms to look for include:
- Stress-induced headaches
- Insomnia or oversleeping
- Gastrointestinal upset
- Hopelessness
- Increased irritability
- Overall exhaustion
- Uncharacteristic lack of empathy
- Frustration
- And more
Practicing self-care to avoid compassion fatigue
“You can’t pour from an empty cup.” If you are caring for a loved one, caring for yourself is equally important. Practicing self-care is imperative to striking that balance.
Check out this list from the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Apart from the usual maintenance of your physical health (eating well, exercising several times a week, getting enough sleep), addressing your mental health surrounding your role as a caregiver is important as well.
Feelings of resentment or feeling annoyed with your loved one as they navigate their mental health or addiction journey is entirely natural in the role of caregiver. What’s not OK is not allowing yourself to sit with these feelings and examine them. You should never feel guilty or ashamed for experiencing these emotions. Recognizing why you feel a certain way and understanding that separating yourself from the caregiver role, even if it’s for an hour a day, is crucial to maintaining a positive and effective relationship for both you and your loved one.
If you are new to the role of family caregiver, the change in dynamic may bring about feelings of embarrassment or resentment from both parties. Carving out time to remind yourselves of your old dynamic can help alleviate these difficult emotions. Step away from your roles to watch a movie, play a board game, or simply go for a walk together.
Finding support
Tackling the day-to-day pressures that come along with being a caregiver is easier to do with a supportive community. You don’t have to do it all on your own. But finding support in the time of COVID-19 can be difficult as we continue to socially distance and quarantine ourselves.
API is happy to provide virtual support dedicated specifically to caregivers. Every Tuesday at 5 p.m., join other caregivers for a virtual support session to help ease the confusing and challenging world of caring for a loved one battling a mental illness. Sessions are guided by API Psychology and Addictive Disorders counselors to offer helpful information and resources. For more information, visit our Resources page.
