The 7 Effects of Burnt Out Caregiver Syndrome

Care for the elderly, sick or dependent must be guaranteed in any modern society that prides itself on looking after the interests and integrity of its citizens.

However, applying these measures requires considering some physical and psychological characteristics linked to this support work for vulnerable people. Therefore, in this article I will explain the main effects of caregiver burnout syndrome .

What is caregiver burnout syndrome?

People who have dedicated themselves to offering socio-health care as a profession are usually dedicated professionals who put all their efforts on a daily basis to do the best possible job with the people who need them.

In Spain, offering this type of care is generally a vocational task that generates great satisfaction in people who devote themselves body and soul to caring for others.

However, this type of work aimed at helping other people can sometimes cause certain problems, both physically and mentally. The best known of these psychological problems or disorders is burnt caregiver syndrome, an alteration that affects thousands of people daily in our country.

We can define this syndrome as a set of symptoms that affect people who dedicate themselves intensely to the care of others and who, due to the lack of rest in their efforts, end up developing anxiety disorders, stress, depression, muscle problems and all kinds of psychological and psychosomatic disorders.

What are the physical and mental effects of caregiver burnout?

There are many psychological disorders that can appear in people who develop burnt caregiver syndrome, among the most common we can highlight cases of sustained anxiety, insomnia, and the inability to regulate outbursts of anger.

These symptoms usually appear progressively in the mental health of the person, the longer this syndrome develops and can worsen if they are not treated as soon as possible by a qualified psychology professional.

Let's see what are the most common and important effects of caregiver burnout syndrome.

1. Exacerbated fatigue

Tiredness, permanent fatigue, and muscle or other pain are some of the physical symptoms that can develop with caregiver burnout syndrome.

These generally occur together with psychological symptoms , and in many cases are caused by the psychological discomfort that the person experiences on a daily basis.

2. Trouble sleeping

Being continuously focused on caring for a person and without time to rest at any time can also cause real disorders in the person's sleeping habits, as well as cases of severe insomnia.

This causes a rest deficit due to the person's inability to sleep properly , which causes a higher level of overload throughout the body, with its consequent influence on physical and mental health.

3. Feelings of guilt

Another of the classic characteristics of burnt caregiver syndrome is a permanent feeling of guilt every time the health of the person being cared for worsens, or when they end up dying.

This phenomenon is explained by the strong bond that the caregiver establishes with the person in their care and the obsession with taking care of their health at all costs at all times , no matter what happens.

In addition to that, people with burnt caregiver syndrome have obsessive perfectionism and do not forgive themselves for any mistake they may make in their work, no matter how small, because they consider that each small mistake can endanger the life of the caregiver.

4. Social isolation

Voluntary social isolation is another of the logical consequences that gradually occurs when a person devotes their personal and professional life to caring for someone.

Caregiver Burnout Syndrome is characterized by a progressive loss of one's personal interests , as well as an increasingly accentuated lack of interest in carrying out any social or recreational activity with friends or family.

5. Interpersonal difficulties

In addition to this loss of interest in attending celebrations or social gatherings of all kinds, difficulties in relating positively with other people , both with strangers and with loved ones and families, are also common.

Growing irritability, mood swings, and physical and mental exhaustion make it impossible for effective, adaptive, and satisfying interpersonal relationships to take place.

6. Sudden changes in weight

People with burnt caregiver syndrome also tend to quickly lose their physical image, a direct consequence of a decrease in their self-esteem.

This phenomenon means that many of them end up gaining weight or losing it in a short time, due to a sudden loss of appetite .

7. Cognitive impairment

Burnt out caregiver syndrome is also accompanied by a series of cognitive disorders that affect the correct functioning of the person in their day-to-day life, such as memory or concentration problems .