Signs and Symptoms of Caregiver Stress
By Brandi Swieter
People who take care of others are known as caregivers. They tend to have a far higher amount of stress placed on them compared to others for the simple fact that they not only handle their own needs but the needs of a loved one, as well. The added stress can do harm to the body if left untreated. Anytime a caregiver notices the following signs and symptoms, they should take steps to correct them so health issues do not start to develop.
Gaining Weight
Many caregivers notice they have gained weight during their time taking care of others. By spending so much time worrying about another person’s needs and not enough worrying about their own, caregivers tend to eat unhealthily and make poor fitness decisions. This way of living can lead to weight gain and even obesity if left untreated.
Feeling Overwhelmed
Handling one’s own daily chores can get overwhelming. Add another person’s to the mix and people are bound to feel incredibly overwhelmed with all their plate holds. Anyone starting to feel this way should take a step back and see what they can unload off their shoulders so they don’t have so much to worry about each day.
Frequent Headaches and Body Aches
Stress can lead to pain, as the body often bears the weight placed upon it by the added stresses of daily life. The neck starts to feel stiff. Muscles feel tight. Headaches come on more often. Tension headaches, as they are often called, develop after tension and strain gets put on the mind and body.
Losing Interest in Activities
Some caregivers spend so much time worrying about their loved one’s needs that they forget to think about their own. Regular activities they once loved are no longer a priority. They start to lose interest and focus their attention entirely on the person they’re caring for instead. This loss of interest can lead to depression if it continues.
Caregiver stress can cause harm to the body and mind if left untreated. While some precautions can be taken to help combat the problem, such as carving out time for oneself, caregivers should also seek the assistance of a doctor of chiropractic at The Joint Chiropractic to correct some of the beginning stages of harm caused to the body by the added stress of their job. An adjustment can help to eliminate subluxations and get rid of pain that develops after stress takes its toll on the body from caregiving duties.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in St. Petersburg, Fla.