Compassion fatigue in caregivers is a fairly unfamiliar concept for many. Over the years, some people have come to notice it as a feeling of burnout resulting from the physical and emotional labour involved in the care of a loved one. We see large numbers of family members, friends, colleagues, and partners becoming caregivers to people suffering from mental and physical illnesses. This, by no means, is an easy job. As comforting and rewarding as it is to care for a loved one, oftentimes the consequences of it are ignored. The self-care needs of caregivers often get overshadowed in the process of looking after a loved one. 
 
Given that caregiving is a full-time responsibility for many, it can severely limit the physical and social activity one can engage in. The monotonous nature of caregiving, day in and day out, can be psychologically taxing, as well as leaving one susceptible to burnout. Additionally, providing care for a loved one might come along with financial pressures, changes in family dynamics, and role reversals. 
 
In a collectivist society like India, one may even feel guilt or shame to admit that they are feeling exhausted or burnt out, as caregiving for parents, partners, or in-laws may be an obligation, more than a choice. Most times caregivers don’t recognize that they are on the road to burnout because they don’t know what the signs are. Some common signs to be on the lookout for are: 

• Continuous irritation, anxiety and sadness 

• Tiredness, amplifying situations that are upsetting 

• Health issues 

• Excess or decrease in eating, sleeping, drinking or smoking 

• Consistently cutting back on your needs, leisure activities and/or social life 

Many people might be able to relate to the abovementioned signs and recognize that exhaustion is a common feeling. While taking care of a loved one isn’t easy, the following steps might help you strike a balance in order to take care of yourself as well. 

• Ask for help: One of the best ways to deal with caregiver burnout is to ask for help. Asking for help doesn’t make you a bad caregiver. It simply means that doing it alone is tough and we all need help at some point. For instance, request for someone to be with your loved one while you want to go for a run, exercise, or just want to go out for lunch with a friend. Give yourself permission to take a break every now and then. If there is no one to help, consider hospice respite care centres if that is something that you can afford. 

• Share the load: Make a schedule for daily chores and delegate chores equally. Ask a sibling, partner, or relative to help with grocery shopping, cooking a meal a couple of times a week, or cleaning the house. 

• Make time for yourself: Try putting aside about 15 minutes or more after work and before caregiving to just be with yourself. Do whatever it is that you think is important for you. Even if it is to drink a cup of coffee or take a hot shower. Give yourself time to unwind from one role and start the other. 

• Control the controllables: Focus on the things that you can control. You are bound to have situations where your emotions get the better of you. Choosing the way that you want to react is what is in your control. Try asking yourself what you want from these situations and whether your reaction will help you achieve that. 

• Your health matters too: Take care of yourself by going for medical check-ups. You might not have the time but asking for a family member for help to take care of your loved one, hiring help, or looking at admitting your loved one to a support group are things that might be useful in this situation. 

• When our loved one is terminally ill: This circumstance can be devastating and requires some time to grieve and accept the reality of the situation. Taking this time to process your emotions and come to terms with the illness might make caring for them just a little bit easier. Having honest conversations about the illness and planning for various situations that can arise with your family can also be incredibly helpful in dealing with this.  

 
Remind yourself to take care of yourself first. Only when we help ourselves will we be able to help others efficiently. 

Sources: 

• (n.d.). Hospice & Palliative Care | VITAS Healthcare. 14 Signs of Caregiver Burnout and How to Prevent It | VITAS Healthcare.Retrieved March 16, 2018, from http://www.vitas.com/resources/caregiving/signs-of-caregiver-burnout 

• (n.d.). HelpGuide.org. Caregiver Stress & Burnout: Tips for Regaining Your Energy, Optimism, and Hope. Retrieved March 16, 2018, from http://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/caregiver-stress-and-burnout.htm