Caregiver Burnout
Finding Yourself Again When Caregiver Burnout Takes Everything
If you’re juggling multiple roles—parent, partner, employee—and now also caregiver to a spouse or aging parent, you may be feeling the effects of caregiver burnout. With the never-ending demands you carry, you might find yourself wondering when you last truly felt like you. For David, a father of two teenage boys and a full-time engineer, that question hit him in the quietest of moments—when he couldn’t bring himself to get out of the car.
David’s wife had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s, and slowly—without even realizing it—he took on more than any one person could handle. “At first, it was just meals and meds,” he recalled. “Then it was doctor’s appointments, managing the house, handling the boys’ schedules. I thought I could do it all… until I couldn’t.”
One evening, after a long day of work, picking up groceries and medication, David pulled into the driveway and turned off the engine. The kitchen light was on. He knew his family was inside, waiting for him. But he sat there for forty minutes, hands on the steering wheel, unable to move.
“I wasn’t crying,” he said. “I wasn’t even upset. I just felt… nothing. I wasn’t sad. I was empty, like I had disappeared. ”
That moment didn’t come with sirens or breakdowns—it came quietly. That’s how caregiver burnout often arrives. Not with one big event, but through a slow, invisible unraveling of energy, joy, and identity.
What Is Caregiver Burnout?
Caregiver burnout is a state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion caused by prolonged stress. It doesn’t happen overnight—but gradually, as your responsibilities increase and your self-care decreases. It’s more than just tiredness. It’s a slow erosion of your energy, identity, and joy.
Common signs of caregiver burnout include:
- Chronic fatigue, even after sleep
- Feelings of resentment or detachment
- Trouble concentrating or making decisions
- Loss of interest in things you once enjoyed
- Mood swings or anxiety
How to Begin Recovering
You don’t need a week off or hire a full-time respite caregiver to start healing. The process of recovering from caregiver burnout starts with small shifts that you can incorporate today into your daily routine:
- Build in Micro-Rest: Five-minute breaks during the day can reset your nervous system. Step outside. Breathe deeply. Do nothing.
- Talk to Someone: Isolation feeds burnout. Confide in a friend, join a caregiver support group, or seek counseling.
- Reclaim Small Joys: Read a few pages of a novel. Listen to your favorite podcast. Start with one thing that reminds you who you are.
- Delegate or Delay: Choose one task this week that someone else can do—or that doesn’t really have to get done right now.
You Deserve to Be Well, Too
David made small changes. He started walking the dog every evening—even when dinner dishes waited. He accepted help from a neighbor who offered to drive his boys to soccer and music lessons. And he began seeing a therapist every other week.
“I didn’t realize how much of myself I had put on hold,” he shared. “But I’m starting to come back. Not all at once. But piece by piece.”
A Word of Encouragement
While being part of the Sandwich Generation may sometimes feel overwhelming, remember that you are doing something extraordinary—but you cannot sustain it without taking care of yourself. This week, take one small step to help prevent or overcome caregiver burnout. You don’t need to fix everything. You just need to show up for yourself like you show up for everyone else.
Check out Part 3, we’ll talk about managing caregiving on a tight budget—without losing your peace or your paycheck.
👉 Continue to—Part 3: The Real Cost of Family Caregiving
👈 Return to— Part 1: How to Prioritize When Everything Feels Urgent