Information for Patients and Caregivers

Caregiver Overload

If you notice any of the following warning signs, you may be approaching role overload and should seek assistance from a local support group, self-help agency, your health care provider or nurse:

• Your family member’s medical condition is worsening despite your best care efforts.
• No matter what you do, your care is not enough.
• You feel you are the only person in the world enduring this and that you are alone.
• You do not have any time or place to be alone for even brief respite.
• Things you used to do to help the care recipient occasionally are now a part of your daily routine.
• Family relationships are breaking down because of caregiving pressures.
• Your caregiving duties are interfering with your work and social life (your other roles) to an unacceptable degree.
• You realize you are all alone, and doing it all.
• You refuse to think of yourself because "that would be selfish".
• Your coping methods have become destructive to you: you’re overeating/under eating, abusing drugs/alcohol.
• There are no more happy times and there is no humor.
• Loving and caring have given way to exhaustion and resentment.
• You no longer feel good about yourself or take pride in what you are doing.
• You feel like a victim.
• You dislike the care recipient.

Too much stress can lead to more serious health problems. Learn to recognize signs of stress in yourself, and contact your health care professional if you experience the following on a regular basis:

• Denial about the disease and its effect on your family member.
• Anger at the person for whom you are caring.
• Social withdrawal from friends and activities that once brought you pleasure.
• Anxiety about facing each day and the future.
• Feel depressed which affects your ability to cope.
• Exhaustion making it impossible to complete necessary tasks of the day.
• Sleeplessness caused by constant concern and worry.
• Irritability that triggers negative responses and reactions in others.
• Lack of concentration making it difficult to perform usual daily tasks.
• Health problems which take their toll, both mentally and physically--worsening chronic disease, colds.

Hoffman, Barbara et al. "A Cancer Survivor’s Almanac—Charting Your Journey" 1996 118-129.

Baxandall, Susanne, Reddy, Prasuna. "The Courage to Care—The Impact of Cancer on the Family". 1993 pp 153-177.

"Taking Time" National Cancer Institutes. 1997.

Rural Partnership Linkage for Cancer Care Newsletter. "Caregivers: Remember to take care of yourself". July 1994.

Rural Partnership Linkage for Cancer Care Newsletter. "What Can I Do to Help" January 1994.

Alzheimer’s Association "10 Ways to Help Reduce Caregiver Stress" and "10 Signs of Caregiver Stress".

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Last modified on 01/28/2004