What Causes Caregiver Burnout?
In our last article, we discussed common signs & symptoms of caregiver burnout—including depressive symptoms, isolation, negative perception of yourself or others, and physical changes. But where do these symptoms come from?
The answer is not simple, as caregiver burnout is often the result of multiple factors working together to create stress and exhaustion. If you find yourself feeling burnt out, it is possible that this has to do with one or more of the factors listed below.
The Intensity Of The Care Situation:
From AARP & NAC’s Caregiving in the US 2020
Caregivers’ care situation has much to do with their confidence, their ability to support their own wellbeing, their energy level, and much more. Longer hours, a more intensive and difficult array of tasks, an inability to find a break, and an unpredictable schedule can all increase a caregiver’s risk of burnout.
Outside Stressors:
Sometimes, factors outside of caregiving can add stress to caregivers’ lives. This additional worry, with that related to caregiving, can compound to put people at risk for burnout. Things like family conflict, work stress, and financial strain can all impact the way we approach caregiving, making it more difficult to overcome and cope with its everyday challenges.
The Challenges A Loved One Experiences:
In the same way that intensity of care can increase risk for caregiver burnout, the physical, mental, or emotional challenges a loved one faces can influence one’s experience as a caregiver. Ailments that require more care, more intensive care, or a more emotionally harrowing type of care can increase stress and exhaustion.
The Amount Of Time Spent Caring:
From AARP & NAC’s Caregiving in the US 2020
The amount of time that one has been acting as a caregiver can also impact caregivers’ sense of stress, exhaustion, or isolation. While not always the case, caregiver burnout often takes a long time to develop, putting those who have provided care for several years at higher risk for burnout than those that have just begun caring. Likewise, longer hours of weekly care can add stress and inhibit caregivers’ abilities to decompress appropriately.
Personal Health Challenges
Personal health challenges can exacerbate or be exacerbated by caregiving challenges. Caregiver stress increases when one needs to spend emotional & mental bandwidth thinking about their own wellbeing, needs to schedule around their own doctors appointments, or finds themselves physically unable to complete certain tasks. Ongoing or chronic conditions can further lead to challenges as a caregiver and lead to a sense of hopelessness.
Likewise, a caregiver’s emotional health challenges can increase the difficulty of caregiving and the likelihood that they will experience caregiver burnout. Burnout can increase the chance that someone will develop emotional issues. Regardless of cause and effect, high caregiver burden has been tied to mental health disorders like anxiety and depression.
Lack of Support:
In general, the difficulty of caregiver’s role means that they require both emotional and physical support—whether from friends & family, a therapist, or the care recipient. When they do not receive the help & encouragement that they need from these sources, they run a higher risk of feeling overwhelmed and burnt out.
From AARP & NAC’s Caregiving in the US 2020
A Sense of Sole Responsibility:
47% of caregivers are the sole caregiver to their loved one. Similarly, many caregivers feel that they have all the responsibility for their loved one’s health. This feeling can be isolating and stressful, often increasing caregivers’ risk for burnout.
In Conclusion:
A helpful way to visualize caregiver burden is as a mismatch of demands and resources: if a caregiver does not have enough time and energy to fulfill all of their obligations and that caregiver struggles to find emotional and physical support, they are likely at an increased risk for caregiver burnout.
If you find yourself feeling burnt out, take some time this week to survey your life and care situation.
How many of the causes of caregiver burden do you see at play in your life?
Is there any way that you can minimize factors that might exacerbate your stress?
How can you make sure that these stressors don’t increase?
Simply taking time to be aware of what causes a sense of burnout can be crucial in actually addressing its symptoms. By being aware, caregivers can take steps to minimize their stress, allowing them to better care for their loved one and themselves.
Hang Tight!
The next article in our series, How To Deal With Caregiver Burnout, is on its way.