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The Male Perspective: Caregiver Burnout

The emotions could be fear, anger, resentment, sadness or anything. Each person deals with this situation in a different manner. Letting someone else know how you feel will give them insight as to why you are acting the way you are. Ignoring your emotions will only cause problems. Let them out and deal with them; This will not make you less of a man. Instead, it will make you more of a stable man.

In the beginning, you may find that you sacrifice most of yourself in order to establish a caregiving routine, but after the routine is set, try to take some time for yourself. Do not feel selfish for doing this. It is necessary to keep your sanity while in the midst of things over which you have no control. 

Try to do something for yourself every day. It does not need to be planned, expensive or lengthy. Take an extra 10 minutes getting to work in the morning and listen to your favorite tape or take the scenic way home. If friends, neighbors or family are helping, take time to treat yourself to something you have not done in a long time. Whatever it is, do something just for you.

Caregiver burnout is not your wife’s fault or anyone’s. It is only one of the side effects of healing. Realize that you are a very important part of the healing process, both physically and emotionally. If you are burnt-out or stressed-out, you can’t create a good healing environment.

Everyone wants to get through the ordeal as quickly and safely as possible. Recognizing in advance that there is a possibility for added stress and having an idea of how to deal with it can help to improve the healing environment. You will have time to do things with your wife after the healing is done. In the meantime, don’t forget yourself.

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