Statistics show that almost 21 million Americans are affected by depression at any given time. As a caregiver, you may stand at greater risk for depression than other people. This increased risk may be due to your caregiving journey involving sacrifice of your own physical and emotional needs for the welfare of the person under your care. You may feel that you are experiencing a roller coaster of emotions ranging from feelings of being appreciated and satisfaction to anger, frustration and/or being overwhelmed. The process of providing care can exact a heavy toll on you physically, psychologically and emotionally. Your caregiving responsibilities may not only bring about detrimental health changes, but may result in feelings that may not always be so positive.

The Need for Caregivers to Care for Themselves

A caregiver’s job is a worthwhile and rewarding endeavor. Oftentimes, it involves caring for or providing assistance to a person who is a loved one. Caretaking may require an enormous amount of love, understanding and patience. Caring for someone can also be fraught with stress and may feel emotional taxing. Caregivers tend to do the daily essentials from cooking, bathing to administration of medicine and bringing the patient to and from the hospital. Other tasks may even require round-the-clock nursing and attention, leaving little time for caregivers to rest and take care of themselves.

All these tasks may leave you feeling worn out or even depressed. Unfortunately, as caregiver, you can be expected to project strength and invincibility to carry out your tasks. You may even consider feelings of depression as sign of weakness instead of red flags for emotional overwhelm. With someone depending on you, you may simply ignore or deny your own feelings in the hope that you will eventually snap out of it. Unknown to you, this may put you at risk for serious health conditions like cancer, heart disease and/or diabetes. Like those that are depending on you, you also need help when the symptoms of depression won’t go away.

The Symptoms to Watch Out For

To beat depression, you must first recognize the symptoms that may be chronic or persistent such as:

• Significant loss of appetite or significant increase in appetite
• Significant loss of weight or significant unexplained weight gain
• Loss of interest in activities previously enjoyed
• Unexplained sadness or unhappiness
• Loss of energy or fatigue
• Lack of concentration or clear focus
• Sleep Disturbance
• Feelings of guilt or lack of self-worth
• Thoughts of self-harm

Beating Caregiver Depression

Just because you’re a caregiver does not mean you can’t ask for help when your health is at stake. Asking for help from family, friends, and neighbors to relieve you from caregiving duties may be beneficial so that you can pay attention to your own personal battle against depression. The first step toward recovery may be contacting a professional therapist.

At Carolina Counseling Services – Fayetteville, NC, you can connect with well-trained licensed, independently contracted therapists that can help to empower you in your journey to recovery. With the resource of a trained professional, you’ll have the upper hand on depression.

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