Caregiver burnout is something you may not notice, but people you know may notice changes in you and express their concern. Here are some signs of caregiver burnout:

• Being on the verge of tears or crying a lot
• Feeling helpless or hopeless
• Overreacting to minor nuisances
• Feeling constantly exhausted
• Losing interest in work
• Decrease in productivity of work
• Withdrawing from social contacts
• Increasing use of alcohol or stimulants
• Nervous habits such as chain smoking
• Change in eating patterns
• Change in sleeping patterns
• Increasing use of medications for sleeplessness, anxiety, depression
• Inability to relax
• Scattered thinking
• Feeling increasingly resentful
• Being short-tempered with care recipient frequently
• Increasing thoughts of death

If you are so frustrated that you are afraid you will hurt your care receiver if you don’t find help right away, see Stage Three, section 2. “Avoid Abuse” is near the end of that section. Resources such as the telephone number of a twenty-four hour crisis and information line and a list of things you can do to cool down immediately are provided. Resources are also provided for suicide prevention, since caregivers and caregivers are among the people at risk of suicide.

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