HomeBlogPatientTaking Care of Others Can Put Your Own Mental Health at Risk: What You Need to Know Taking Care of Others Can Put Your Own Mental Health at Risk: What You Need to Know November 13, 2017Patient Caregivers experience many emotions, but feeling overlooked and underappreciated are probably at the top of the list. That’s why every November the Caregiver Action Network celebrates Family Caregivers Month to acknowledge and show appreciation for the many caregivers who selflessly give their time and talent every day to help someone they love. The 2017 theme is “Caregiving Around the Clock” to acknowledge that caregiving “can be a 24-hours a day/7-days a week job.” If you’re one of the more than 40 million unpaid caregivers of adults 65 and older in America, you know how taxing this role can be. In fact, caregivers are at an elevated risk of developing mental health disorders—like depression and anxiety—due to the high demands of caregiving. Many caregivers may be struggling with their own health. In fact, of those caring for a person older than 65, the average age of caregivers is 63—with one-third of these in fair to poor health. An Increased Risk of Mental Health Problems Recent studies consistently find higher levels of stress, anxiety, depression and other mental health problems among caregivers than among non-caregivers of the same age. In fact, 40-70 percent of caregivers have clinically significant symptoms of depression. “Caregiving has all the features of a chronic stress experience: It creates physical and psychological strain over extended periods of time, is accompanied by high levels of unpredictability and uncontrollability, has the capacity to create secondary stress in multiple life domains such as work and family relationships, and frequently requires high levels of vigilance,” said Richard Schulz, PhD, and Paula R. Sherwood, PhD, RN, CNRN in the American Journal of Nursing. Even when a loved one is taken out of a caregiver’s home and placed in a nursing home, depression and anxiety disorders still persist in caregivers and can even worsen. Many caregivers who place their loved one in a nursing home report depressive symptoms and anxiety to be as high as they were when their loved one was in the home. Physical health is also at risk. One in 10 caregivers report that caregiving has caused their physical health to get worse. Caregivers suffer from increased rates of physical ailments (including acid reflux, headaches and pain), increased tendency to develop serious illness, and higher levels of obesity and bodily pain. “Being a caregiver is draining on anyone—emotionally, physically and financially,” said Liz Tassone, a long-time gerontologist and member of the Caregiver Assistance Network in Ohio. “Being responsible for another person’s well-being is a full-time job, often taken on alongside other full-time jobs. As a result, caregivers are under immense amounts of stress.” Self-Care for a Caregiver Just as you care for your loved one, you must not neglect your own health. After all, if you aren’t healthy, how can you be expected to take care of someone else? Here are a few ways to make sure you’re taking good care of yourself: Lack of sleep can lead to weight gain, chronic fatigue, and poor decision making. Although a racing mind can make it hard for caregivers to get some much-needed shuteye, there are a few ways to help you relax at bedtime: download a relaxation app, read a book about meditation, or practice being mindful, allowing your mind to slowly shut down and drift off to sleep. Regular physical exercise works wonders for your mental health. If you don’t have time to go to a gym, get creative with your exercise. For example, park further away from your destination so you have to do a little more walking. Take time for yourself. Just because you have a loved one at home that needs constant help doesn’t mean you can’t have “me” time. Taking just a few minutes to yourself each day helps you recharge and rejuvenate, allowing you to become a more effective caregiver. “Me” time can consist of any of your favorite hobbies or interests. And although it can be hard, ask friends and family for help by taking over your caregiving duties for a little while. As a caregiver, your life is non-stop and selfless. If you disregard your own health, there’s a greater chance you won’t be around to care for your loved one. Do you both a favor by keeping your own mental, emotional and physical health in a good place. You’ll both greatly benefit. Our articles are for informational purposes only and are reviewed by our Medical Information team, which includes PharmDs, MDs, and PhDs. Do not make any changes to your current medications or dosing without consulting your healthcare provider. The GeneSight test must be ordered by and used only in consultation with a healthcare provider who can prescribe medications. As with all genetic tests, the GeneSight test results have limitations and do not constitute medical advice. The test results are designed to be just one part of a larger, complete patient assessment, which would include proper diagnosis and consideration of your medical history, other medications you may be taking, your family history, and other factors. If you are a healthcare provider and interested in learning more about the GeneSight test, please contact us at 855.891.9415. If you are a patient, please talk with your doctor to see if the GeneSight test may be helpful. Patient Barriers at Every Turn: How Systemic and Social Factors Block Men from Mental Health Care Taking the important step of seeking care for mental health isn’t always an easy decision. Uncertainty about the need for care, social stigmas associated wi... 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Read more Patient MTHFR Mutations: Clinical Implications and Management Strategies MTHFR mutations—changes in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene—have gained increased attention in the medical community due to their potent... Read more Patient Can an App Help Me Manage My Anxiety? Health and wellness smartphone apps have become so common that if you can name a health goal, desire or condition, you can probably find an app for it. N... Read more Patient Black Trailblazers of Psychiatry and Mental Health: A Legacy of Healing and Advocacy As we celebrate Black History Month, we want to recognize a few individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the field of psychiatry and mental heal... Read more Patient Mindful Moments: Tips for Anxiety If a well-meaning friend or family member has ever told you to “just breathe” when you’re feeling worked up or stressed out, you’d be forgiven if you felt l... Read more Patient Hints To Help You Have A Better New Year The holidays have ended, and a new year has begun—a time when many embrace a fresh start by setting New Year’s resolutions. This year, why not consider s... Read more Patient Movement as Medicine: Solutions for Anxiety Moving forward. It sounds like a nice idea, especially when you’re feeling stuck deep in the throes of an anxiety spiral. But it turns out that physically m... Read more Learn more Learn more about GeneSight How to talk to your provider View our clinical studies
Patient Barriers at Every Turn: How Systemic and Social Factors Block Men from Mental Health Care Taking the important step of seeking care for mental health isn’t always an easy decision. Uncertainty about the need for care, social stigmas associated wi... Read more
Healthcare Provider Overcoming Side Effect Concerns: Leveraging Pharmacogenomic Insights to Inform Depression and Anxiety Medication Selection Whitnee Brown, a lifelong resident now practicing in Birmingham, Alabama has nearly an entire alphabet following her name, abbreviations for degrees and certifi... Read more
Patient Concerns about Mental Health Medication Side Effects Remain a Barrier to Getting Help for Those Diagnosed with Depression and Anxiety Lisa Roberts has raised a family, reached an impressively high level in her career, and was an anchor for her mother and other family members. When, within ... Read more
Patient Common Antidepressant Side Effects Taking an antidepressant can be an effective way to help treat a mental health condition like depression or anxiety. However, these medications can also cre... Read more
Patient MTHFR Mutations: Clinical Implications and Management Strategies MTHFR mutations—changes in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene—have gained increased attention in the medical community due to their potent... Read more
Patient Can an App Help Me Manage My Anxiety? Health and wellness smartphone apps have become so common that if you can name a health goal, desire or condition, you can probably find an app for it. N... Read more
Patient Black Trailblazers of Psychiatry and Mental Health: A Legacy of Healing and Advocacy As we celebrate Black History Month, we want to recognize a few individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the field of psychiatry and mental heal... Read more
Patient Mindful Moments: Tips for Anxiety If a well-meaning friend or family member has ever told you to “just breathe” when you’re feeling worked up or stressed out, you’d be forgiven if you felt l... Read more
Patient Hints To Help You Have A Better New Year The holidays have ended, and a new year has begun—a time when many embrace a fresh start by setting New Year’s resolutions. This year, why not consider s... Read more
Patient Movement as Medicine: Solutions for Anxiety Moving forward. It sounds like a nice idea, especially when you’re feeling stuck deep in the throes of an anxiety spiral. But it turns out that physically m... Read more