Counseling for Caregivers in Missouri
You know it’s an honor to be a caregiver, but you’re feeling burnt out these days.
It feels like there’s never time or energy to take care of yourself.
You feel like you’re losing yourself.
Being a Caregiver is Challenging
Caregivers face unique challenges every day. The significance of caring for a loved one hands-on at home, in a care facility, or from miles and miles away, is great and can feel insurmountable. We are not all doctors and nurses, yet somehow you have become one. You are inundated with medical jargon and flooded with worry about how to manage your loved one’s health, finances, and more. When was the last time you took time out for yourself? Had lunch with a friend? Went to a doctor's appointment for your own health needs? You are not alone. Counseling can help you learn how to be calm in the chaos, manage stress, and prevent caregiver burnout. Seeking help is not a weakness, it is strengthening your support. No one does this alone, why should you?
Signs of Caregiver Burnout
Caregiver burnout is very, very real. You want to care for and help your loved one. But over time, you get worn down. Your own mental health and wellbeing suffer. Maybe you even become resentful. Or just….exhausted. You want to be a good caregiver. But you also want to feel….better….more like yourself again perhaps.
Feeling out of your league or overwhelmed with caregiving
Loss of interest in things you used to enjoy
Changes in appetite - eating too much or too little
Neglect of basic needs – hygiene, hydration, health, etc.Lack of, or inability to, sleep
Pulling away or withdrawing from friends or family
Having little energy
Difficulty concentrating
Feeling like your emotions are out of control
Counseling Can Help You as a Caregiver
Caregiving does not cause mental illness, but it is not uncommon for caregivers to experience depression, anxiety, and stress. Depending on your loved one’s illness, you may already be grieving (called anticipatory grief) and struggling with how to process all of this.
Everyone’s situation is unique as a caregiver. But everyone deserves support. In counseling, you can learn mindfulness techniques to remain calmly present, even in the midst of chaos. You will learn how to more purposefully and effectively manage crises with coping skills based on your values. You will build your support system and learn that self-care does not always mean bubble baths. Instead, it often means meeting your basic needs and building boundaries for your own health. In doing so, you will refill the caregiving cup, and restore a sense of balance between your life roles.
Support for Caregivers in Missouri
We know it’s hard to ask for help. You’re used to being the one that helps others. But you’re tired and know it’s time. In fact, you’ll be a better caregiver when you have someone supporting you as well. Our counselors here to help. Here’s how you get started:
1.
Reach out to Aspire Counseling
First, you’ll speak to a member of our Client Care team who will ask you a few questions about what you are looking for. We’ll take the time to match you with a therapist who has experience supporting caregivers, has openings that work for you & we think can best help.
2.
Meet with a Counselor
Because we know how important it is to find someone you feel comfortable with. Therefore, all of our therapists offer a free 30-minute consultation where you can ask as many questions as you’d like. You’ll get a feel for the therapist and how they might help.
3.
Find Yourself Again
You and your therapist will come up with a plan forward based on your needs, you’re therapist’s experience and the counseling methods they’re been trained in. Together, you’ll walk this journey so you can find a way to balance your own needs & still care for your loved one.
Blog Posts Related to Caregiving:
Our therapists write blog posts regularly to share tips and information that frequently come up with our clients. We hope that by writing these blog posts we can help most people than will ever be able to walk through our door. So, if you’re not yet ready or in need of counseling, it may be helpful to just read through some of these.
