What are the symptoms of carer fatigue?
• Feeling tired and lethargic, even after sleeping
• Being more irritable, impatient and short-tempered than usual
• Having difficulty switching off and relaxing
• Losing interest in things you used to enjoy
• Feeling anxious, tearful, hopeless or depressed
• Neglecting yourself, e.g. your personal care and emotional needs
• Over-eating or not eating enough
• Sleep disturbance
• Succumbing to illnesses more often than usual
• Drinking more alcohol to cope with feelings of stress
• Feeling that your caring role has taken over your life or that it has become a chore
• Taking your frustrations out on the person you care for
14 Warning Signs of Caregiver Burnout
• Lack of energy
• Overwhelming fatigue
• Sleep problems (too much or too little)
• Changes in eating habits; weight loss or gain
• A feeling of hopelessness
• Withdrawing from, or losing interest in, activities you once enjoyed
• Neglecting your own physical and emotional needs
• Feeling like caregiving is controlling your life
• Becoming unusually impatient, irritable or argumentative with the person you’re caring for and/or with others
• Anxiety about the future
• Depression or mood swings
• Difficulty coping with everyday things
• Headaches, stomach-aches, and other physical problems
• Lowered resistance to illness
