Signs of Carers Burnout – what to look out for!

You may or may not have heard the term ‘burnout’. It’s pretty common in the UK, and chances are, as a carer, you have experienced it.

A recent report has highlighted that unpaid carers in the UK have one of the world’s highest levels of emotional strain and burnout,

It’s been reported that

 “77% of UK carers experiencing unprecedented levels of burnout, as well as more physical and emotional exhaustion than ever before.” The Carer Well-Being Index

So what is care-giver burnout?

Caregiver burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion. It can creep up on us over time and can happen when we continuously give and care for others without getting our own needs met or the help we need.

Caring for someone is difficult and often, we push ourselves to do more than we are capable of, whether that’s physically, emotionally, or financially.

Have a think - how many times have you said some version of ‘I can do it’ when someone asks to help, or another challenge arises?

We get it! Sometimes it is easier just to get on and do what needs doing ourselves. After all, no one knows our children, parents or elderly relative or their needs as well as we do.

Naturally your priority and focus is on the person who needs caring for. Their needs come first, no matter what time of day it is, because they simply are not able to take care of themselves.

The problem arises when we keep on giving and caring, day in, day out, without taking care of ourselves or thinking about what our needs or self-care.

As carers we often talk about the battle, fighting to be heard and get the resources we need for our loved ones. Add to that the day-to-day activities, stress, juggling of work and family responsibilities, anxiety, managing budgets with little rest or time off and it’s no wonder so many of us burn out.

Symptoms to look out for

Any of us can become a carer, we are all different, so we may not all experience burnout the same way.

People who experience burnout may exhibit a variety of symptoms:

• A change in attitude from positive to negative, perhaps becoming more cynical.

• Feeling overwhelmed and exhausted most of the time. A small problem can seem huge.

• A loss of interest in activities previously enjoyed.

• Feeling down, irritable, hopeless and helpless.

• Withdrawing from friends, family and other loved ones.

• Changes in appetite, sleep and health.

• Some people may experience feelings of wanting to hurt themselves.

• Emotional exhaustion. You may find you are crying much more than normal.

• Becoming more irritable or angry. Small things can send you into a rage, you might be snapping at people regularly, or getting more angry than usual.

• Not being able to think straight, experiencing a lack of concentration or a foggy head.

• Overreacting to minor situations and / or catastrophising. You have heard the saying ‘the straw that broke the camels back’, a slight mishap could push us over the edge.

Burnout occurs when we have used up all of our reserves. We may feel as though we have nothing left – no capacity to cope with stress or to keep on giving or find solutions.

Many of the carers we talk to have experiences some of this. Often caring for their loved one is the easy bit – it’s the sheer exhaustion of fighting for services, benefits, packages, and physical help which takes its toll.

If you see yourself in any of the symptoms above then you need to get some help, whatever that may be. Find ways to rest, take time away, talk about it.

Our 6 week coaching for carers program can help relieve symptoms of burnout so you can access the resources you have to find positive solutions. Come and try one of our taster sessions in October to find it how it works.