Individual Counseling for Caregivers: When You're Burning Out From Helping Others

Nearly 59 million American adults are acting as caregivers for an adult family member, according to a recent survey from the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) and the National Alliance for Caregiving. 

That’s a dramatic 50% increase over the past decade, underscoring the growing amount of responsibility adult loved ones are taking on, even as many face their own aging challenges.

While caring for a loved one can be a deeply meaningful experience, it can also cause significant stress. In fact, caregiver burnout is also becoming increasingly common as adult children and other loved ones juggle their ever-growing workload.

At Conduit Behavioral Health, we understand the unique stresses that today’s caregivers face, along with the emotional impact these stresses can have. In this post, Temika Heyward, PhD, FNP, CRNP, PMH, and her team explain how individual counseling can help caregivers balance their responsibilities with prioritizing their emotional wellness and overall quality of life.

Recognizing the signs of burnout

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by a task at work, school, or home, you’ve probably experienced the very early stages of burnout. In general, burnout happens when you begin to feel exhausted physically, mentally, and emotionally, and that exhaustion interferes with your overall well-being. 

Instead of happening all at once, burnout develops gradually as burdens and responsibilities mount, eventually finding expression as excess fatigue, stress, anxiety, depression, sadness, and even anger. Burnout symptoms are worse when you don’t feel supported by friends and family, leaving you feeling isolated and alone.

In addition to its emotional effects, burnout can also impact your physical health. Continual stress and anxiety can lead to sleepless nights, unhealthy eating habits, and an increase in your blood pressure, too. 

Worse, burnout leads to feelings of failure, inadequacy, and guilt, feelings that can cause many caregivers to delay seeking the care that can help them feel better.

Individual counseling: Support for your unique needs

If you’re feeling burned out, first know this: It’s not your fault, and you’re not alone. Individual counseling can provide you with the tools and support you need to care for yourself and your loved ones effectively, safely, and compassionately.

One of the most valuable aspects of counseling is having a space where you can speak openly about what you’re feeling without worrying about being judged. Your counselor takes the time to really listen to your concerns, helping you find constructive ways to work through your feelings while improving your sense of confidence.

Many caregivers have a habit of routinely assuming they can do more than what’s realistically possible, fueling feelings of failure and frustration. Our counselors can help you set realistic goals and identify strategies and resources that support you in your caregiving responsibilities, so you feel supported, empowered, and capable, all while helping to keep stress and frustration at bay.

In addition, we help you manage daily stress through relaxation techniques, time management, and other methods that help you prioritize your own health without feeling guilty or resentful. Over time, counseling helps you improve your own well-being while strengthening your ability to support others.

Restore balance with focused support

Caregiving will always present challenges, but with individual counseling, you can develop the skills and knowledge to manage your responsibilities and maintain your overall well-being. To find the support you need, request an appointment online or over the phone with Dr. Heyward and the team at Conduit Behavioral Health in Baltimore, Maryland, today.