The Caregiver’s Syndrome arises in those who play the role of main caregiver of a person in a dependency situation. It is characterised by both physical and mental exhaustion, with a picture similar to that of work stress or “burnout”.

What is Caregiver’s Syndrome?

This is expressed by those caregivers who require constant help because they present some degree of neurological or psychiatric alteration or deficiency, such as some type of dementia.

In most cases, the decision to become a caregiver is often imposed by circumstances , without a deliberate decision-making process. Therefore, these people suddenly face a new situation for which they are not prepared and which consumes most of their time and energy, to the point of becoming the centre of their life.

Changes that occur in the caregiver’s life

The caregiver’s life changes radically as a result of the required demand. Their new responsibility r requires a profound transformation in their way of life and quality of life , since, in general, no one is prepared to live 24 hours a day with a person (usually a loved one) who is deteriorating progressively day by day. This situation will most likely generate deep emotional and affective reactions: sadness, tension, anger, guilt, frustration, confusion… that so often suffer those who perform these care functions.

Some of the changes that occur in your life in the short and long term:

  • Family relationships (new roles, obligations, conflicts,… arise)
  • Labor (abandonment or absenteeism, increased expenses,…)
  • Free time (decrease of time dedicated to leisure, interpersonal relations,…)
  • Health (problems with tiredness, disturbed sleep and appetite, …)
  • Changes in mood (feelings of sadness, irritability, guilt, worry, anxiety, stress…).

Causes of Caregiver’s Syndrome

The caregiver’s stress arises mainly from the different ways of perceiving the needs of the patient, the investment of time, resources, conflicts between their expectations and the rest of the family members, feelings of guilt…

On many occasions, the conflict arises due to the inability to satisfy the needs of the patient , the family and personal needs. It is very common for the caregiver to give up areas of his/her social and working life given the needs required by the person under his/her care.

Some signs of caregiver syndrome disorder

It is important for family and friends of the primary caregiver to be aware of a number of symptoms that may indicate the presence of the disorder:

  • Increased irritability and “aggressive” behavior against others
  • Stress against auxiliary caregivers (they do not care for the patient properly)
  • Depressive or anxious symptomatology.
  • Impatience with the person in care.
  • Social isolation.
  • Physical problems : headaches, anguish, gastric problems, palpitations…

Therapeutic recommendations

It is just as important to take care as it is to take care of ourselves; this will allow us to continue to provide help in the best possible conditions, without getting burned.

It is essential that:

  • Find moments to relax . There is a relationship between inner tension and outer or body tension. When you are nervous your body becomes tense. It is common to notice a knot in your stomach, or a tightness in your chest, or you have a tense jaw or neck, or your face is red, etc.
  • Rest and sleep long enough.
  • Organize your time better so that you continue to do some of the activities and hobbies that you have always liked (going to the cinema, walking, going to the gym, knitting,…)
  • Learn how to ask for help and delegate functions . It is impossible that, without help, you can carry out the amount of tasks you used to do before taking care of your relative, and in the same way.
  • Don’t feel guilty for laughing or having fun , if you are happy you will find it easier to cope.
  • Take care of your physical appearance , this will improve your psychological well-being.
  • Avoid self-medicating .
  • Communicate and express your feelings to other family members.
  • Make agreements . All members must collaborate in the care of the dependent.
  • Be assertive . It is important to treat the dependent person and the other family members in a friendly and communicative way. In this way, misunderstandings will be avoided and everyone will be more willing to help.
  • Work on empathy. Putting ourselves in the other’s shoes can help us understand their point of view and understand their behaviour.
  • Manage emotions . You have to know how to control feelings like anger or frustration.
  • Work the cognitive stimulation of the dependent persons . To do so, it is necessary to carry out reading practices with them, to talk about everyday facts so that they have a notion of reality and remember old stories and reminiscences that stimulate their memory.
  • Say “no” to excessive demands from the dependent.