Caring for the Caregiver: Preventing Burnout When You Support Others
Caring for a loved one through illness, decline, or end-of-life is one of the most meaningful acts of love. But it can also be one of the most exhausting. Caregivers often give so much of themselves that their own needs—emotional, physical, and spiritual—are pushed to the background. Over time, this can lead to caregiver burnout, a state of physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion that leaves you feeling depleted, overwhelmed, and alone.
As someone who has worked in hospice care, medical social work, and skilled rehab facilities, and as a trained End of Life Doula, I have walked alongside many caregivers in their journeys. I’ve seen the beauty of love expressed through caregiving—and I’ve also seen the quiet suffering that happens when caregivers don’t get the support they need.
This blog is written for you, the caregiver. My hope is to remind you that your well-being matters just as much as the person you’re caring for.
Understanding Caregiver Burnout
Caregiver burnout doesn’t happen overnight—it builds gradually. At first, you may feel stressed but capable. Over time, constant responsibilities, sleepless nights, emotional strain, and lack of personal space start to take a toll.
Common signs of caregiver burnout include:
- Constant fatigue and difficulty sleeping
- Feeling irritable, anxious, or depressed
- Losing interest in hobbies or social connections
- Increased physical health problems or frequent illness
- Resentment toward the caregiving role (even if you deeply love the person you care for)
It’s important to recognize these signs early—because ignoring them doesn’t make them go away. It simply makes the caregiving journey harder for both you and your loved one.
Why Caregiving Feels So Heavy
Caregiving is not just about the physical tasks of bathing, feeding, or managing medications. It’s also deeply emotional.
Hospice work taught me how much anticipatory grief weighs on caregivers. You’re mourning changes every day, even before the final goodbye.
In skilled rehab and medical settings, I witnessed the frustration caregivers feel when navigating complex health systems, advocating for loved ones, and balancing their own families and careers.
As an End of Life Doula, I’ve seen the spiritual and existential weight of caregiving—how caregivers hold space for another person’s vulnerability while often neglecting their own.
This blend of emotional, physical, and spiritual responsibility is what makes caregiving both profoundly beautiful and profoundly challenging.
Practical Ways to Prevent Burnout
While caregiving may feel all-consuming, there are ways to protect your well-being and preserve your strength:
- Set Realistic Expectations
You cannot do it all—and you’re not meant to. Accepting that you will have limits is an act of compassion, not failure. - Ask for Help
This may look like hiring professional support, leaning on community or church groups, or asking family to share responsibilities. Even small breaks can make a difference. - 3. Prioritize Rest and Nutrition
Your body cannot sustain care for others if it is running on empty. Make sleep, movement, and nourishing food non-negotiables. - Create Sacred Moments for Yourself
As an End of Life Doula, I encourage caregivers to have rituals of self-care—simple practices like journaling, lighting a candle, taking a walk, or practicing mindful breathing. These moments can ground you when the chaos feels overwhelming. - Seek Emotional Support
Caregiving often brings up grief, anger, fear, and guilt. Talking with a therapist who understands these unique challenges can help lighten the load and provide coping strategies.
You Deserve Care, Too
Caregiving is a profound act of love, but love is not sustainable without balance. By taking care of yourself, you are not being selfish—you are ensuring that you can continue to show up for your loved one with compassion and presence.
In my work as a therapist in Overland Park, Kansas, I walk alongside caregivers to help them process their emotions, prevent burnout, and reclaim pieces of themselves along the way. My background in hospice, medical social work, skilled rehab, and end-of-life care allows me to hold space for the complexity of your experience with empathy and understanding.
If you are a caregiver feeling tired, lonely, or overwhelmed, please know you don’t have to carry this burden alone. Support is available—and you are worthy of receiving it.
If you’re ready to care for yourself as much as you care for others, reach out today to schedule a session. Together, we can create space for your healing and resilience.
Caring for the Caregiver: Preventing Burnout When You Support Others
Caring for a loved one through illness, decline, or end-of-life is one of the most meaningful acts of love. But it can also be one of the most exhausting. Caregivers often give so much of themselves that their own needs—emotional, physical, and spiritual—are pushed to the background. Over time, this can lead to caregiver burnout, a state of physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion that leaves you feeling depleted, overwhelmed, and alone.
As someone who has worked in hospice care, medical social work, and skilled rehab facilities, and as a trained End of Life Doula, I have walked alongside many caregivers in their journeys. I’ve seen the beauty of love expressed through caregiving—and I’ve also seen the quiet suffering that happens when caregivers don’t get the support they need.
This blog is written for you, the caregiver. My hope is to remind you that your well-being matters just as much as the person you’re caring for.
Understanding Caregiver Burnout
Caregiver burnout doesn’t happen overnight—it builds gradually. At first, you may feel stressed but capable. Over time, constant responsibilities, sleepless nights, emotional strain, and lack of personal space start to take a toll.
Common signs of caregiver burnout include:
- Constant fatigue and difficulty sleeping
- Feeling irritable, anxious, or depressed
- Losing interest in hobbies or social connections
- Increased physical health problems or frequent illness
- Resentment toward the caregiving role (even if you deeply love the person you care for)
It’s important to recognize these signs early—because ignoring them doesn’t make them go away. It simply makes the caregiving journey harder for both you and your loved one.
Why Caregiving Feels So Heavy
Caregiving is not just about the physical tasks of bathing, feeding, or managing medications. It’s also deeply emotional.
Hospice work taught me how much anticipatory grief weighs on caregivers. You’re mourning changes every day, even before the final goodbye.
In skilled rehab and medical settings, I witnessed the frustration caregivers feel when navigating complex health systems, advocating for loved ones, and balancing their own families and careers.
As an End of Life Doula, I’ve seen the spiritual and existential weight of caregiving—how caregivers hold space for another person’s vulnerability while often neglecting their own.
This blend of emotional, physical, and spiritual responsibility is what makes caregiving both profoundly beautiful and profoundly challenging.
Practical Ways to Prevent Burnout
While caregiving may feel all-consuming, there are ways to protect your well-being and preserve your strength:
- Set Realistic Expectations
You cannot do it all—and you’re not meant to. Accepting that you will have limits is an act of compassion, not failure. - Ask for Help
This may look like hiring professional support, leaning on community or church groups, or asking family to share responsibilities. Even small breaks can make a difference. - 3. Prioritize Rest and Nutrition
Your body cannot sustain care for others if it is running on empty. Make sleep, movement, and nourishing food non-negotiables. - Create Sacred Moments for Yourself
As an End of Life Doula, I encourage caregivers to have rituals of self-care—simple practices like journaling, lighting a candle, taking a walk, or practicing mindful breathing. These moments can ground you when the chaos feels overwhelming. - Seek Emotional Support
Caregiving often brings up grief, anger, fear, and guilt. Talking with a therapist who understands these unique challenges can help lighten the load and provide coping strategies.
You Deserve Care, Too
Caregiving is a profound act of love, but love is not sustainable without balance. By taking care of yourself, you are not being selfish—you are ensuring that you can continue to show up for your loved one with compassion and presence.
In my work as a therapist in Overland Park, Kansas, I walk alongside caregivers to help them process their emotions, prevent burnout, and reclaim pieces of themselves along the way. My background in hospice, medical social work, skilled rehab, and end-of-life care allows me to hold space for the complexity of your experience with empathy and understanding.
If you are a caregiver feeling tired, lonely, or overwhelmed, please know you don’t have to carry this burden alone. Support is available—and you are worthy of receiving it.
If you’re ready to care for yourself as much as you care for others, reach out today to schedule a session. Together, we can create space for your healing and resilience.
