Chronic stress, exhaustion and helplessness. These are just some of the consequences for carers of a loved one with a mental illness. What does round-the-clock care of a family member entail and how can you help yourself?
Table of contents:
- How does caring for a loved one affect family relationships?
- Stigmatisation of mental illness how does it affect carers?
- How does caring for an ill person reflect on the health of the carer?
- Burnout and round-the-clock care of an ill family member - how does it manifest itself?
- How can health problems and burnout be avoided?
- Caring for a mentally ill loved one - where to find help?
How does caring for a loved one affect family relationships?
When one family member becomes ill, the whole family feels it. Round-the-clock care is both financially and emotionally demanding. Over time, as the illness progresses or relapses, patience and hope for any improvement is lost. This reflects negatively on both the sufferer and other family members. The standard of living deteriorates, resentment, conflicts and unfulfilled expectations are much more frequent. As a result, family members begin to distance themselves from each other and relationships begin to break down.
Stigmatisation of mental illness how does it affect carers?
It is very difficult to come to terms with an unfavourable diagnosis and to accept the otherness of a loved one. The patient's behaviour can be incomprehensible, causing discomfort and fear for their safety. It does not help that mentally ill people are commonly stigmatised. For this reason, caregivers may experience shame, a desire to hide their loved one's illness or avoid contact with others so as not to expose them to the patient's distressing symptoms. Sometimes it is the loved ones who begin to turn away, and after a while there is a profound loneliness and alienation in the carers.
Caring for a mentally ill person,photo: panthermedia
How does caring for an ill person affect the carer's health?
Caring for a mentally ill loved one is extremely demanding. Sometimes it is round-the-clock care that falls on the shoulders of one person. Without adequate knowledge of the illness, funding, family and social support, the burden takes a toll on the carer's health. Constant stress, lack of time to rest and loneliness can lead to depression or other mental ailments.
According to a 2010 study, 67% of people caring for a loved one with schizophrenia suffered from severe depression. Furthermore:
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43% of carers were characterised by pessimism,
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35% reported feeling unhappy, irritable and in need of help,
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33% had a decrease in mood,
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28% were withdrawing from relationships,
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27% felt a sense of guilt.
Other studies report that carers are at risk of chronic stress and emotional strain, which, in addition to depression, can trigger panic attacks, sleep disturbances and weight loss. In addition, burnout can occur.
Caregiver burnout, photo: panthermedia
Burnout and round-the-clock care of a sick family member - how does it manifest itself?
Prolonged stress, sacrifices, constant work, sharing each day with a suffering person and isolation lead to physical and mental exhaustion, which can be a sign of carer burnout. What is caregiver burnout? A carer experiencing burnout is in a situation where they themselves begin to need the help of a professional and are unable to recuperate. Symptoms of burnout are:
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neglect of duties,
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irrational behaviour,
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problems with concentration,
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headaches,
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feelings of guilt, anger, despair,
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irritability, irritability, anxiety,
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aggression.
The carer may experience anger at the sufferer, lack of understanding and patience. Burnout can cause the carer to start treating the person with the illness in an objectifying way.
Round-the-clock care for a loved one with a mental disorder, photo: panthermedia
How can health problems and burnout be avoided?
The way the illness is perceived is extremely important. According to research, people who make sense of their illness and try to maintain hope use active methods of coping with stress that allow them to conserve and regenerate their energy resources. As a result, they suffer fewer consequences than caregivers who are pessimistic by nature and who feel a strong sense of helplessness and hopelessness when faced with a problem.
Another important element is having social support. Research says that just sharing one's problems with someone and saying out loud what one is feeling brings relief in crisis situations. Despite the difficulties of organising time in 24-hour home care, it is worth setting aside time for yourself to relax or indulge your passion. It is worth seeking help not only from other family members, but also from outside.
Caring for a mentally ill loved one - where to find help?
In order to avoid health problems resulting from caring for a mentally ill loved one, it is worth spending time on psychoeducation. Psychoeducation helps to better understand the symptoms the patient is struggling with, where they come from, how to avoid them and how the patient can be supported.
Methods to support carers, photo: panthermedia
In addition, it is a good idea to make an appointment with a psychotherapist or psychologist to help take care of the carer's mental state. If there is a family history of mental illness, family therapy is recommended so that each member of the family can be cared for appropriately. Such meetings can be helpful in sharing care responsibilities, learning about each other's expectations and maintaining good relationships within the family.
If burnout or other health symptoms occur, it is recommended to see a psychiatrist, who will prescribe appropriate medication and refer for individual psychotherapy. Effective in counteracting burnout is practising relaxation on a regular basis and learning to gain distance from the client.
Information about mental illness is difficult not only for the patient, but also for his or her family. It is an extremely demanding situation, in which it is important to seek support for oneself and to adapt responsibilities to one's real possibilities.
