Keep this be-good-to-you checklist handy to help prevent caregiver burnout.1
“Caregiving can swallow you whole,” says Sharon, from Massachusetts, whose husband, Chris, was diagnosed with prostate cancer at 58. “You hear cancer, and a huge fear overwhelms you. I knew Chris had to face this, and I could see the flood of worry racing through his mind. I wanted to support and care for him, and not let on how afraid I was,” she says about taking on her new caregiver role.
It can be terrifying seeing the man you love get struck down by illness. But in our jump to the rescue, we can end up piling too much onto our shoulders, leading to burnout, exhaustion, even depression.1