Burnout Counselling – Caregiver Burnout Therapist

What is Burnout? What is Caregiver Burnout?

Burnout occurs when you feel you have nothing left to give. You are mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausted. Sleep doesn’t restore you. Rest doesn’t help. Time away no longer helps. You don’t know how to get yourself back on track. Whether life stresses have compounded for too long or you have been dealing with exceptional circumstances, burnout can happen to anyone.

Caregiver burnout can happen when you are the primary caregiver for a loved one or a career caregiver. It doesn’t mean you do not love the people in your life, or your career. You have given more of yourself than you had in reserve. You have lost your balance. It is time to step back and take care of you again.

Symptoms of Burnout

• Sleep or rest no longer restores
• You may have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.
• Loss of interest in work or things that you found enjoyable.
• You may have difficulty saying “no.”
• You may struggle with establishing or maintaining healthy boundaries.
• Your relationships suffer at home and at work.
• You may begin to feel hopeless or irritable.

Help is available.

Getting in touch with our own feelings and needs can be difficult and a source of guilt or shame for many caregivers. The truth is you cannot care for others when you are not looking after your own needs. We all need to recharge, enjoy relaxing, and engage in activities that rejuvenate us. This is an important part of establishing a healthy life balance. Unplugging from everyone to look after ourselves can feel impossible with all the constant demands in our lives. But living at the bare minimum that you have left to give is just as impossible. You recognize that you can’t keep going this way and you may be ready to do something to make it better.

Caring for others is one of the hardest things we do. As a mom of a special needs child, I am familiar with the guilt, struggle, exhaustion, and toll caregiving has on an individual and on the family. I am aware of the services available to help you and ease your burden. You may feel you “should” be able to do “this” on our own. But we are not superhuman. We need care and downtime too. Once I committed to regular self-care, my life turned around. Starting slowly can help make it easier or if you need a drastic change, we can help you identify and work towards exactly what you need to restore your sense of self. I can help you find your inner peace and balance again!