bad,” explains Mosiello. “They
Cancer, which Hara co-wrote with
forget that they have to take care
Susannah L. Rose, MS, MSSW,
of themselves before they can
there are several signs of burnout,
tend to someone else.”
also known as ‘compassion fatigue’:
MULTITASKING AND GUILT CREATE STRESS “A lot of the stress comes from multi-tasking,” says Richard Hara, Ph.D., MSSW, oncology social worker and professor at Columbia University in New York. Caregivers typically do all the housework, manage the schedule, cook the meals, drive the patient, navigate the healthcare system,
•
Irritability
•
Sleeping difficulties (either problems getting to sleep or sleeping too much)
•
Loss of interest in activities
•
Social isolation
•
Recurring feelings of guilt and anxiety.
Caregivers who experience one or more of these characteristics should take notice and try to figure out how to handle the stress.
all while maintaining their own professional or vocational lives. Sometimes they work second jobs to make up for what the patient isn’t earning, Hara adds. Guilt and fatigue are common. “Caregivers often feel that if they’re not doing something, not changing a bedpan or cooking a meal, they’re not helping,” says Mosiello. So they keep busy, maintaining a whirlwind of “They tell me, ‘I’m exhausted, I’m upset, I’m scared,’” says Mosiello. “‘But whatever I’m feeling, it can’t
Meditating, taking a daily walk, eating healthy foods and spending time with other friends and family are some simple ways to alleviate caregiver stress. There are even support groups specifically for caregivers.
activity. Taking time for oneself is often viewed as selfish.
Caregiving can offer unexpected rewards—many people gain
caregivers as much as patients.
WATCH FOR THESE SIGNS OF BURNOUT
The patient has permission to
Sometimes caregivers are so busy
benefits of caregiving if you also
delve into their difficult feelings,
cooking and scheduling, cleaning
work diligently to take care of
because they are sick. Caregivers,
and budgeting that they don’t
yourself.
on the other hand, are expected—
notice that they’re feeling stress.
be as bad as what the cancer patient is feeling.’” The truth is that cancer attacks
expect themselves—to tough it out. “A lot of caregivers don’t give themselves permission to feel
There are, however, certain characteristics that can serve as a checklist. According to About Caring for Family or Friends with
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new skills, a greater selfunderstanding, and a stronger relationship with the patient. But you can only experience the
