How do you Recognize Stress and Compassion Fatigue?


Stress is inevitable in today's world. Hectic work schedules, increased responsibility and constant deadlines place huge demands on many people, including Family Caregivers. Stress related to being a Family Caregiver has many consequences if allowed to go on too long. There is an association between stress and a range of health outcomes, such as poor mental health, heart disease, immune disorders, back pain, and health-related behaviors such as drinking and smoking.

The unique stresses of caregiving can lead to a kind of burnout that has been coined "compassion fatigue." This can be very costly for Caregivers because the emotional "cost" of unmanaged stress can lead to illness and eventual loss of productivity. In fact stress is now cited as a factor in 96% of all disease in this country.

The demands of caregiving and other family obligations often create conflicting needs and little time to relax and rejuvenate mind and body. Understanding the signs of stress, "Compassion Fatigue" and possible burnout along with developing skills to manage stress is essential for managing the demands of being a Family Caregiver.

Do you have any of the most commonly reported signs of stress related to caregiving?

Constant fatigue: Are you just as tired when you wake up, as you were when you went to bed?

Depression or anxiety: Are you feeling overwhelmed and anxious? Do you have angry outbursts?

Physical Illness: Do you have a susceptibility to illness? Do you have heart disease, GI problems, or back pain?

Are you forgetful and disorganized?

Are you noticing yourself using alcohol, drugs, or food more?

Other Signs of Burnout Include:
1. Feeling overwhelmed
2. Disillusionment
3. Guilt and self-sacrifice
4. Distancing
5. Forgetfulness and disorganization

Is all Stress Harmful? Short term (acute) vs. Cumulative (Chronic) Stress:

Acute Stress: Temporary exposure to a stressor. Usually this does not result in disease. Ex: A person yelling at you or being late and stuck in traffic. May even be good for us (ie. keeps us challenged and engaged). The body has many systems to deal with acute stress. Symptoms of short-term stress may include temporary increased heart rate, emotional excitement and alertness.

Chronic Stress: Long-term exposure to a stressor or perceived stressor. More likely associated with disease and is a known factor in heart disease, reproductive disorders, hormonal abnormalities, G.I. problems, auto-immune disorders, depression, anxiety, etc. Ex: Living in an unhealthy relationship day to day; working in a job with unabated pressures such as constant deadlines. In addition to contributing to disease, chronic stress is a primary cause of burnout.

STRESS TEST:
Do You Have Chronic Stress? Is Your Stress Adding Up?

Chronic emotional stress can affect you physically, emotionally, spiritually, mentally and socially. Check the symptoms you have experienced lately to determine how over stressed you really are. (source: Wellbeing Magazine Vol.3, No.1)

Physical
_tension
_fatigue
_insomnia
_weight change
_colds
_muscle aches and tightness
_digestive upsets
_pounding heart
_accident prone
_teeth-grinding
_rashes or skin problems
_foot-tapping
_finger-drumming
_increased alcohol, drug or tobacco use

Spiritual
_emptiness
_ loss of meaning
_doubt
_unforgiving
_matrydom
_loss of direction
_cynicism
_apathy

Mental
_forgetful
_dull senses
_poor concentration
_low productivity
_negative attitude
_confusion
_whirling mind
_no new ideas
_spacing out
_negative self-talk

Emotional
_frustration
_the 'blues'
_mood swings
_lashing out, losing your temper
_nightmares
_crying spells
_irritability
_'no one cares'
_nervous laugh
_worrying
_depression
_easily discouraged
_little joy resentment
_lack of intimacy

Social
_isolation
_loneliness
_hiding
_clamming up
_lowered sex drive
_fewer contacts with friends
_distrust
_nagging

If you answered yes to any of the above, you may be experiencing stress or possibly burnout.

The results of these quizzes should be shared with your MyTherapyNet therapist. It is important to know whether you have mild stress or if you are really burned out.

Additional tools for managing stress can be found at www.MindBodySeries.com