Carer burnout: recognising the strain

You may feel constantly on duty, lose interest in things outside caring, or become unusually irritable. Fatigue, Difficulty Sleeping, Difficulty Concentrating, Feeling Anxious, and Loss of Libido can occur. Burnout is different from an occasional tired day because the strain begins to shape your functioning, relationships, and ability to recover.

List essential tasks, flexible tasks, and tasks another person could take over. Share that list with relatives, friends, or a care coordinator and request a specific change. Schedule brief pauses before you reach crisis point, keep basic meals and fluids within reach, and make room for a medical or counselling appointment. Boundaries are part of safe, sustainable care.

Seek professional advice when sleep, mood, energy, or concentration problems persist or caregiving no longer feels safe. Get urgent help if you have thoughts of self-harm, feel unable to control anger, or cannot meet the person's essential needs. Immediate danger requires local emergency support.

Could these symptoms be burnout, Depression, a sleep disorder, or a physical illness? What support can reduce my caring load? How should I respond if sleep or anxiety worsens? Can you help me make a safety plan?