Eight Tips to Reduce Caregiver Burnout

In the United States, approximately 1.63 million people are either living with or are in remission from blood cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), or myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). An equal or greater number of individuals serve as care partners for these patients. Being a care partner is often motivated by deep affection, yet it can lead to significant stress. 

As a care partner, you might experience stress symptoms such as feeling overwhelmed or anxious, fatigue, irritability, a loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities, or physical health issues. These issues typically arise from the challenges of balancing your loved one's needs with your own.

If you notice any of these stress indicators, consider the following advice from fellow blood cancer care partners on how to reduce burnout. 

Eight Tips to Reduce Caregiver Burnout 

Blood cancer care partners shared the following tips for how they reduce burnout while supporting their loved one. 

1. Set boundaries with the patient around what they want help with. Even if it is out of love, be willing to let go of nagging them on areas they don’t want help with.
2. Get outside (weather permitting). Go for a walk, run, bike ride, garden, or just a break sitting outside and breathing in the fresh air.
3. Show yourself compassion about the learning curve. Don’t try to cram all the information in at once. If you get a specialist on your team, trust their input up front, and you can learn more about the cancer over time.
4. Give yourself the validation that it is okay to take frequent breaks from thinking about cancer. Spend time doing a hobby you would have enjoyed pre-diagnosis.
5. Keep up with your own health care. Putting your health first will help reduce resentment. Your well-being will also impact your ability to care for others.
6. Take a break from depressing social media posts. Also, when searching for information, seek it out from credible sources, such as specialists.
7. Even if you feel like you need to be strong for your loved one, you need to take time to feel your emotions. Otherwise, they will build up over time and negatively impact your health. Seek out a mental health professional to support you as needed.
8. Even though there are bad days, when the good moments come, give yourself permission to enjoy those too. It does not all have to be doom and gloom. 

Conclusion

In summary, when supporting someone with blood cancer, it's important for care partners to actively manage their own stress and well-being. To reduce burnout, care partners suggested tips like setting clear boundaries, maintaining personal health, and allowing space for emotional processing. This enables you to not only preserve your own health but also enhance your ability to provide compassionate assistance to your loved one. 

Connect to Other Caregivers!

Visit one of the links below to learn from and speak to other blood cancer care partners. HealthTree groups we have so far include: 

• Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
• Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL)
• Follicular lymphoma
• Multiple myeloma
• Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS)
• Myelofibrosis

If you would like to share your story or tips about being a blood cancer caregiver, please email info@healthtree.org. 

Sources: 

• Cancer Facts & Figures
• Caregiver Stress: Tips for Taking Care of Yourself