Wait, I Might Be a Caregiver! What Does That Mean?

If you are caring for a loved one—whether they’re aging or impacted by a disease or condition—you know that it’s an immense responsibility. Caregiving can take a significant toll and give you little time for work, family, friends, or anything else. Caregivers report much higher levels of stress than people who are not caregivers.

The amount of stress you have can depend on the disease or condition of your loved one. The CDC reports that caregivers of loved ones with Alzheimer’s are at greater risk for anxiety and depression than other caregivers—which can be exacerbated by their loved one’s behavioral symptoms like agitation. NIH reports that caregivers of loved ones with serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, also experience a higher level of stress—due to factors such as uncertainty and stigma.

If this stress is left unchecked, it can affect your mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Caregiver burnout is the emotional and physical exhaustion caregivers may experience caused by the long-term stress of caregiving.