parenting

beat back burnout

Caring for your child starts with a healthy, happy you.

Kate and Ryan Nelson love hiking with their daughter Mary, who has SMA. Being out in nature is a great stress reliever for them.

by Amy Labbe

All parents make sacrifices in caring for their children, and it’s widely acknowledged that parenting is a full-time job.

But parents of children with muscular dystrophy or other neuromuscular diseases know that their job is fulltime and then some. And although this job carries great joy, it also carries a higher-than-average risk of anxiety, depression and exhaustion — commonly called burnout.

It’s easy for parents to lose sight of their own goals and aspirations when faced with the responsibility of caring so completely for another. Remember — only by taking care of yourself first can you hope to avoid caregiver burnout and give your child the best care possible.

One: Identify the causes

The stresses that lead to caregiver burnout can come from many sources, including:

• the physical, emotional and financial costs of caregiving;

• unrealistic expectations (either of your own capabilities or for your child's progress);

• a constant feeling of being in a heightened state of alert, in crisis mode, or "waiting for the other shoe to drop;"

• guilt brought on by the need for outside help; and

• sadness or anger at circumstances beyond your control.

Two: Spot the symptoms

Symptoms of burnout include increased feelings of anger, guilt and dissatisfac-

tion, which may lead to hostility toward or withdrawal from others.

Health problems associated with stress include sleep difficulties and fatigue, body aches or headaches and high blood pressure.

Burnout can cause some parents to neglect their health and appearance, while others may avoid their responsibilities or apply less care and diligence to their day-to-day tasks.

Still others may experience difficulty concentrating or suffer a loss of self-esteem. Some may have changes in their appetite or weight, or turn to alcohol or drugs, cigarettes, junk food or other unhealthy alternatives.

Susan Orloff, occupational therapist and executive director of Children’s Special Services in Atlanta, notes that caregiver burnout manifests differently depending on the person.