Depleted

Have you ever felt like you were drowning in resposibilities and too depleted to do it all? Thought so! Most people feel this way from time to time. Though I’m not caring for a loved one these days like you probably are, I’m caring deeply in a different way, creating a business that cares for caregivers. Like other caregivers, I want to help. Often I’m too earnest and in my desire to do well I push myself beyond my limits. I overextend and exhaust myself. Caring takes physical, mental and emotional energy.

When my energy is spent, nothing looks or feels right and I get into a vicious cycle. I become unsure and anxious; pessimistic thoughts drain away my usual optimism. These negative thoughts weigh on my mind and disturb my sleep. Tired from poor sleep, I have even less energy. Doing anything becomes a chore, which further sours my outlook. I force myself to continue doing the things I feel responsible for doing. What was once joyous, interesting or a challenge then becomes just one more burden. Fatigue to negativity, to more fatigue and more negativity…and on it goes.

I want to interrupt this cycle but that will take some energy. Though I’ve written a book on self-care for caregivers, I’m human. Sometimes I forget to practice what I preach about conserving and restoring energy. What advice would I give a worn out caregiver that could help me in my current depleted state?

• Recommit to balancing responsibilities, relationships, commitments and energy. Be a good steward of my energy. Do the best I can while engaged in a task, then let it go. Turn it off at the end of the day or week. Refocus on other elements of life that are important or fun.
• Remember, I’m not a machine. I can’t plug into a socket for energy to keep going. My energy comes from within. I’m an organic being whose energy ebbs and flows like the hours in a day or seasons in a year. My energy is not infinite. Recognize and respond when energy is low. Take a break. Reenergize with people and pastimes that bring relaxation, joy, or pleasure.
• Avoid stress numbing. Using food, drink, shopping or TV to distract, escape, postpone or mute my stress can give momentary pleasure. Relying on these can create problems.
• Engage in healthy self-care practices that relieve stress and help me relax. Walking, singing, journaling, praying, talking with friends and reading all help me readjust my attitude, settle down and get a good night’s sleep.

This is what I’ll do to interrupt this vicious cycle of negativity and fatigue.

How about you, if you’re feeling depleted, what can you do to feel better? Let me know what you think.

Until next time, take care…Jane

 

Tagged as: caregiver burden, caregiver stress, Jane Meier Hamilton, Self-care