Caregiver Stress and Burnout: Why It Happens and What You Can Do About It

Caring for another person whether that’s a parent, a child, or a partner is one of the most meaningful acts of care one can do for someone else. Yet at the same time caregiving for another person has a side that many people try to avoid talking about, the emotional, physical, and psychological strain that can build over time. This stress and strain can often get out of hand if left unchecked leading to caregiver stress and eventually caregiver burnout. 

What Is Caregiver Stress?

Caregiver stress refers to the emotional and physical tension caused by the responsibilities of caring for someone who depends on you. It often shows up as:

• Feeling overwhelmed or constantly worried

• Irritability or impatience

• Difficulty concentrating

• Sleep disturbances

• Physical fatigue

• Social withdrawal

For many caregivers, stress builds gradually and slowly. It begins with balancing routines, appointments, work, and personal life building until life feels like one ongoing obligation with little space to rest.

How Caregiver Burnout Develops

Burnout is the point where stress becomes chronic and out of hand. This begins affecting a caregiver’s ability to function as they once were. A couple ways this can appear are: 

• Emotional exhaustion: feeling constantly drained, numb, withdrawn, or anxious 

• Reduced empathy: difficulty offering compassion or patience to themselves or others

• Increased health issues: headaches, chronic fatigue, sleep issues

• Feelings of hopelessness or resentment 

• Loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities

Caregiver burnout doesn’t happen because someone is “not strong enough”, it happens because caregiving is demanding, often 24/7, and the caregiver’s own needs take a back seat for too long. Caregiver burnout can happen to everyone and is something that’s incredibly important to address before it even gets to that point.

Why Caregivers Are at Higher Risk

Research consistently shows that caregivers, especially those caring for individuals with dementia, chronic illness, or mental health challenges, are at a significantly higher risk of anxiety, depression, and health problems. Some of the contributing factors include:

• Role overload: multiple responsibilities with no clear boundaries

• Lack of support: limited help from family, services, or community

• Financial pressures

• Emotional attachment: watching a loved one decline can be painful

• Guilt: feeling guilty for taking breaks or wanting time off

• Over time, caregivers may stop attending medical appointments, eating well, engaging with friends, or taking time to decompress, all of which can further increase the risk of burnout.

How Psychotherapy Can Help Caregivers Recover and Thrive

Psychotherapy offers caregivers a supportive space to reconnect with themselves and rebuild resilience. A therapist can help caregivers:

1. Recognize Early Signs of Burnout

Many caregivers don’t realize they’re burning out until symptoms are severe. Therapy helps identify stress patterns and create a proactive plan to prevent escalation.

2. Develop Healthy Boundaries

Setting limits is often the hardest part of caregiving. Psychotherapy teaches boundary-setting skills, communication strategies with family members, and ways to distribute responsibility without guilt.

3. Manage Anxiety, Grief, and Guilt

Caregiving often involves anticipatory grief, worry, or feeling like “I’m not doing enough.” or feeling like it’s a thankless job. Therapy provides tools such as cognitive-behavioural strategies to challenge unhelpful thoughts and develop self-compassion.

4. Build Coping Strategies

Therapists help caregivers build routines that support emotional regulation, rest, and personal wellbeing which are all things that are often neglected or seen as less of a priority for the caregiver.

5. Strengthen Support Systems

Psychotherapy can help caregivers identify social supports, connect to community resources, or map out your community of support to reduce isolation. 

Therapy empowers caregivers not only to continue supporting their loved one but also to maintain their own mental, emotional, and physical health to the best of their abilities. 

References

Adelman, R. D., Tmanova, L. L., Delgado, D., Dion, S., & Lachs, M. S. (2014). Caregiver burden: A clinical review. JAMA. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2014.304 

Chiu, T., Marziali, E., Colantonio, A., et al. (2009). Internet-based caregiver support interventions: A systematic review. Clinical Gerontologist. https://doi.org/10.1080/07317110902895350 

Cooper, C., Balamurali, T. B. S., & Livingston, G. (2007). A systematic review of the prevalence and covariates of anxiety in caregivers of people with dementia. International Psychogeriatrics. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1041610206004297 

Gallagher-Thompson, D., & Coon, D. W. (2007). Evidence-based psychological treatments for distress in family caregivers of older adults. Psychology and Aging. https://doi.org/10.1037/0882-7974.22.1.37 

Northouse, L. L., Katapodi, M. C., Song, L., et al. (2010). Interventions with family caregivers of cancer patients: Meta-analysis of randomized trials. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.20081 

Pinquart, M., & Sörensen, S. (2003). Differences between caregivers and noncaregivers in psychological health and physical health: A meta-analysis. Psychology and Aging. https://doi.org/10.1037/0882-7974.18.2.250 

Schulz, R., & Sherwood, P. R. (2008). Physical and mental health effects of family caregiving. American Journal of Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NAJ.0000336406.45248.4c

Vitaliano, P. P., Zhang, J., & Scanlan, J. M. (2003). Is caregiving hazardous to one’s physical health? A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.129.6.946