Caregiving is in the Top 10 Careers with High Rates of Depression
When looking at the top 10 careers with high rates of depression, caregivers top the list with nearly 11% of people in this career reporting an episode of major depression. To compare this number, about 7% of the general population report an episode of major depression. Being a caregiver is a very difficult role that takes on many life-depending responsibilities. A typical day of fulfilling all of these needs often includes no expression of gratitude or appreciation because many of the elderly population, especially those with Alzheimer’s disease, are incapable of it.
A recent study found that 41% of former caregivers of a spouse with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia experienced mild to severe depression up to three years after their spouse had died. No matter how much you love, or think of the person you care for, it is inevitable to feel low in mood at times. Sometimes this low mood can turn into depression.
Caregivers are so vulnerable to depression because they often sacrifice their own needs while tending to their loved one, and because of the constant stress involved. Depression can affect different people in different ways. It is important to be able to recognize signs and symptoms of depression in order to seek immediate help. These signs and symptoms are as follows:
•Having feelings of intense sadness, unhappiness, anxiety, apathy, guilt or a mixture of all of them.
•Having brooding and circular negative thoughts about things that seemed good and easy before.
•Having an inability to concentrate.
•Having little or no interest in people and things around you.
•You do not feel the motivation to do things any more.
•Sometimes your mood changes as the day progresses, things seem a bit easier in the afternoon or others may notice a change in you. For others their depression seems constant.
•You may experience suicidal thoughts or thoughts of self-harm. You may feel that your life or your loved ones life is not worth living.
•You have little or no energy, it is difficult to get out of bed, do your chores and work, look after your loved one or client.
•You are not interested in your appearance or personal hygiene.
•You cry a lot. Sometimes you can cry for hours in response to a frustrating incident, even if it was trivial.
•You feel agitated, sometimes very agitated.
•You do not go out or look forward to social occasions any more.
•You may experience changes to your sleep pattern. You may have difficulty getting off to sleep, get to sleep quickly but wake very early, or not seem to sleep at all. What sleep you get does not seem to refresh you.
•You may lose your appetite and lose weight. You may gain weight. You may experience gastro-intestinal problems.
•Constipation is a common feature of depression
•There can be disruption of women’s menstrual cycle when people get depressed.
•You may experience a loss of interest in sex.
•You may experience physical symptoms such as a lump in your throat, feeling you may faint, that you are suffering from a serious illness.
•You may experience memory and speech problems.
You are not alone. Depression is a very common thing and many people will experience it at some time in their life. Most types of depression are treatable and it is important you ask for help. Do not put up with depression. Here are 12 tips to help protect you from depression and guide you toward good mental health as you fulfill your caregiving responsibilities.
•Acknowledge it. Suppressing your emotions can sometimes do more harm than good. Sometimes the best thing that we can do for our mental health is to be honest with ourselves.
•Educate yourself. Read and learn about your loved one’s condition. There is no way of eliminating the surprises that come along with an illness, but if you understand the illness, you can better prepare yourself for what might happen.
•Secure your own oxygen mask. Sometimes taking care of your own needs is more important than taking care of others. One study found that stressed-out older caretakers tending to a sick spouse had a 63 percent risk of death compared to the non-stressed-out caregivers or non-caregivers.
•Schedule breaks. It is important to schedule one half-hour every day at the same time of day when no one is allowed to bother you with requests.
•Label your guilt. Label it as helpful or unhelpful. Try to get rid of the negative, unhelpful thoughts.
•Get organized. Develop some house rules. If supper is scheduled for six o’clock every evening, that is one less thing you must be bothered with the repetitive asking, when is dinner?
•Get out of the house. Make yourself sign up for community programs even if you don’t want to because the time spent outside of the house is crucial to your mental health.
•Sleep. Sleep deprivation can lead to feeling physically ill and core symptoms of depression can emerge.
•Reduce your expectations. Caregivers are constantly grieving and grieving relationships take up a lot of energy.
•Ask for help. Don’t be afraid and don’t wait until it’s too late.
•Postpone important decisions. Wait to make these decisions until you are feeling more yourself and more stable.
•Talk about it. It helps to talk with people who are going through something similar. Join a support group.
It is important that you get as much help and support as possible. That can be long or short term support in the form of respite care, employing support caregivers, involving family or friends more, residential care for your loved one, or help to give you more time for yourself. Local support groups are fantastic. They provide a special sort of support, friendship and information that comes from people sharing their experiences of caregiving to someone with Alzheimer’s disease. You are not alone.
Have you ever participated in a local support group? If so, what was your experience like and what are some of the benefits you gained from it?
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Caregiving is in the Top 10 Careers with High Rates of Depression
