Caregiver Depression

As you live day-to-day with a depressed person, you can get burned out, especially if their needs are severe, time consuming or demanding on you.  I ran across an article today that talks about caregiver depression. (The link for the full article is at the end of this post).  If you are experiencing signs of caregiver depression, please seek help through counseling or contacting a medical professional. Let your friends and family know that you need help.

Warning Signs of Caregiver Depression:

• Harmful behavior toward the care recipient. (If this happens even once the caregiver should seek help for him or herself immediately.)
• Unrelenting feelings of sadness or doom.
• Feeling like your life is being stolen from you.
• Crying frequently.
• Being easily angered by, and constantly annoyed at the care recipient.
• Sudden change in eating habits resulting in unwanted weight gain or loss.
• Change in sleeping: inability to fall or stay asleep, or, wanting to stay in bed and sleeping too much.
• Lack of desire to do anything.
• Loss of interest in people and pleasurable activities.
• Feeling worthless and guilty.
• Feeling like nothing you do is good enough.
• Thoughts of death or suicide. (Seek help immediately.)
• Chronic physical symptoms: headache, back pain, etc.
• Panic attacks or continual anxiety.
• Feeling completely overwhelmed with worry about how you will manage.

To read the full article, click Signs of Caregiver Burnout: How Family Members Can Recognize Their Own Depression

Remember to take time for you!!