When caring for someone else, you might experience challenges and difficult feelings such as: Stress and worry. If you spend a lot of time thinking about their health and what will happen in the future, it may feel hard for you to switch off. Over a long time, worry and stress can cause mental health problems.
Caring can also lead to social isolation, loneliness, loss of social relationships and lack of support, and the experience of stigma. The impact of caring can increase over time and have greater effects for specific groups of carers.
As a caregiver, you're more likely to experience symptoms of depression or anxiety. In addition, you may not get enough sleep or physical activity, or eat a balanced diet — which increases your risk of medical problems, such as heart disease and diabetes.
Indeed, family caregivers, while struggling to adjust to new responsibilities and roles [5], may experience negative psychological outcomes that include new or worsening depression, anxiety, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms [6].
' Overcare is a common emotional habit that causes us anxiety, worry and stress.” The term “overcare” was coined by Doc Childre, founder of the HeartMath® system and co-author of numerous books, including Transforming Stress, Transforming Anxiety, Transforming Anger, and Transforming Depression.
Managing Varied Shifts and Hours
You may need to work longer shifts, irregular hours and during the weekends so this is something you must consider before taking a role. As a result of this, some care workers find it challenging to fit in personal responsibilities around work.
The emotional effects of caregiving are generally bad. Caring for an older adult has been associated with anxiety, depression, and higher use of psychoactive medications. Caregivers often feel overwhelmed, isolated, tired, apathetic about activities they once enjoyed, agitated, irritable, angry, sad, and worried.
Caregiver stress syndrome is strongly associated with negative health outcomes. Between 40 to 70% of caregivers suffer from depression, while many caregivers also have anxiety as a result of the stress associated with providing care. Anger and irritability are also common symptoms of caregiver stress syndrome.
It can be both physically and mentally exhausting, which can sometimes lead to Caregiver Burnout. Being a care worker involves having a lot of responsibility, since you are assisting people with their physical and mental health and can sometimes be the only human interaction that they have a day.
A support worker has many opportunities for self-improvement. Your job experiences help your decisions and vital areas of your life. During the work and while improving the relationship with supported individuals, support workers gain many personal skills necessary for everyday living.
Working with vulnerable people
One unmissable challenge of a social work job is interacting with vulnerable people daily. To be successful in social work, you need to be patient, and empathetic and have strong communication and interpersonal skills.
Caregiver burnout is a state of physical, emotional and mental exhaustion. It may be accompanied by a change in attitude, from positive and caring to negative and unconcerned. Burnout can occur when caregivers don't get the help they need, or if they try to do more than they are able, physically or financially.
Caregiver stress is due to the emotional and physical strain of caregiving. Caregivers report much higher levels of stress than people who are not caregivers. Many caregivers are providing help or are "on call" almost all day. Sometimes, this means there is little time for work or other family members or friends.
Caregiver anxiety can be caused by many things, such as: Managing many responsibilities. Having to do medical tasks you aren't prepared for. Feeling like you don't have control over your own life. Concerns about your loved one's well-being.
Impact of Caregiving on Caregiver Mental and Emotional Health. The psychological health of the family caregiver is negatively affected by providing care. Higher levels of stress, anxiety, depression and other mental health effects are common among family members who care for an older relative or friend.
Caregiver depression may result from the many challenges involved in taking care of someone who is ill. Part of the stress caregivers may feel can stem from concerns over a loved one's safety, personality changes, and health concerns. Self-care measures may help a person cope and prevent depression.
Caregiving is hard — and can lead to feelings of stress, guilt, anger, sadness, isolation — and depression. Depression affects different people in different ways and at different times.
While there's some debate about the exact time, experts agree that Tuesday around midday (between 10:30 AM and 2:30 PM) is scientifically the most stressful time of the work week.
Support workers provide personal, often intimate care, so of course, a friendly face when dealing with challenges is welcome. Friendship is indicative of mutual trust, again, built on sharing of personal moments. Time spent together fosters a strong bond.
Social workers have one of the highest risk jobs for chronic stress and burnout among healthcare professionals, especially when workloads are high and they don't feel valued.