Caregiver Burden and How to Find Relief

Caregiver Burden and How to Find Relief

A prevailing theme in one of my recent sessions had to do with caregiver burden. I thought about linking it with May Mental Health Month, as May is winding down and we welcome June. A lot of caregivers don’t seek help for themselves and could benefit from therapy as a radical act of self-care. Taking time out of their schedules to go to therapy would be highly beneficial for them and the person/s they are caring for. It can be beneficial for a few reasons, firstly, therapy can help unpack stressful situations. Sometimes discussing issues with a friend, partner, or parent can feel burdensome, which is a feeling that does not necessarily need to correlate with speaking with family and friends. Therapy can be used as an act of self care, a way to take a break from pressures in daily life. If you set aside 45 minutes a week to take care of yourself, it will energize you enough to care for others. Similar to how running a mile a week can train you through endurance and resilience. Taking 45 minutes to do anything positive a week can do wonders, such as journaling, meditating, visualizing, and reading. 

In therapy, we can work together on journaling techniques, and workshops that can help explore positive thinking, stress relieving exercises, and more. Caregivers often feel as if asking for help is weak, and this damaging mindset can only make matters worse. In reality, people who care about you, want to help you through difficult times. It actually makes connections and relationships stronger because of the amount of trust one usually must feel to open up. Being free of worrisome thoughts can make your experience of caregiving easier. Ridding yourself of shame and regret will make the process of caring for others feel weightless and limitless. 

Here at Integrative Psychological Consulting, LLC, my courses cover topics such as caregiver burden and Ways to Keep your Peace in the Year 2025.  Please be on the lookout for news about workshops and courses that will be available to you soon!