CARING FOR YOURSELF
Common signs and symptoms of compassion fatigue and burnout:
Feeling tired, lethargy, exhaustion
Sleep difficulty
Weepiness
Irritability and intolerance
Apathy
Inability to relax
Health problems and susceptibility to illness
Difficulty concentrating
Feelings of resentment
Appetite changes
Self-neglect
Social isolation
Feeling hopeless and helpless
Feeling overwhelmed
COPING TIPS
Feeling stressed while providing care is normal. However, there are things you can do to create balance and ensure your needs are met.
See caregiving as a privilege
You are being compassionate and this is an opportunity to help someone through a most challenging life experience. In a non-egotistical way, you can acknowledge you kindness and sacrifice.
Accept the situation
It is likely that witnessing the suffering of the person you are caring for has affected you and as you try to improve the situation, you may feel helpless and frustrated. It is therefore important that you accept what is taking place and, while you may not be able to change the circumstances, you can accept and allow the things you cannot control and try to make sense of and understand the situation. How you regard what has happened and how you respond will make a difference in terms of how you cope with the responsibility.
Keep your boundaries
It is important to make time for yourself and to engage in regular social activities, so you don’t become isolated and you get the support you need. If there are things required of you that you can so “no” to without harming the person or you can find someone to deputise for you, do that.
Ask for emotional support when you need it
Whether from a family member, friend, therapist or other professional, it is important to be able to talk things out and to have people who will listen to you and validate and acknowledge your experience in this supporting role.
Don’t overlook simple accomplishments
The simple things can be the big things. You might not be able to come up with ideas the get rid of symptoms, but you are still contributing to that person’s wellness and even things like preparing a meal or taking the person to a nature spot are accomplishments too. You are helping to make the person feel comfortable and cared for. It may be a long time before appreciation is expressed because the person is so distracted with withdrawal/ABIND, but what you are doing is exceptional and make no mistake, immense gratitude must be felt.
Delegate tasks and share responsibility
Involve as many reliable family members and friends as you need. Don’t try to do everything yourself, unless you have no choice. For example, one family member can be in charge of mowing the lawn and maintaining the garden, while another takes care of grocery shopping, and another can check-on you at an arranged time daily or weekly, to make sure you are managing well enough.
Take time out
If you can, have intermittent periods where you hand over caring responsibilities to someone else, rest and engage in leisurely activities. It might be for just one day or one week, but it is important to recharge your batteries. You cannot pour from an empty cup.
Find time to maintain your relationships
Caregiving can be all consuming and you can lose touch with people who have been important in your life for many years. Make time to connect with them, meet up even if only for an hour, and secure those bonds of friendship.
Take care of your health
Don’t neglect your health while focussing on someone else, as some caregivers do. It is important to eat healthily, exercise, practice a calming technique like mindfulness or some form of meditation, and get adequate sleep.
These are just some ideas that may help you to care for yourself while you offer your heal and patiently wait for your loved one, client, or friend, to heal.