What Are Some of the Signs that You Might Be Dealing with Depression as a Family Caregiver?

Elderly Care Concord NC

Often depression isn’t all that obvious when it shows up. It has little signs and symptoms that seem like something else until you finally realize that you’re dealing with depression. If you suspect that your symptoms point to depression, make an appointment with your doctor right away. Depression can be sneaky, especially for family caregivers of an elderly loved one.

Here are some signs that you might want to seek out some help.

You’re Not Talking to Friends Anymore
When you’re depressed, you might feel like your friends just wouldn’t or couldn’t understand and so you withdraw from those relationships. Unfortunately, this just helps you to feel even more isolated and alone than you already felt. This contributes to the depression and often makes it worse.

You’re Not Finding Time to Do the Things that You Love to Do
Do you know that there are some activities, like exercise, that make you feel better but you just don’t think you have time to do them? When you’re busy and feeling overwhelmed, that can seem true. But what happens is that you gradually stop doing anything that you enjoy and you get deeper and deeper into the depressed, negative thoughts.

You’re Not Paying Attention to Your Own Health
Another problem for family caregivers is that they can become so focused on their loved one’s health that they completely ignore their own health. If that’s the case for you, you may be fighting depression. Schedule a doctor’s appointment and then actually go. Then you have a better understanding of your current health situation.

You’re Using Crutches to Cope with Your Stress
You may also find that you’re having more than your usual glass of wine after dinner and before bed. Sometimes that can inch up to another glass or two, even. The problem with these types of outside crutches is that although they seem like they’re working for a little while, you always need more and more of them in order to continue being effective.

You’re Never Feeling that You Get Enough Sleep
Do you feel that no matter how much sleep you get, it’s never enough? That can be the depression, too. Dealing with the effects of depression on top of caring for your loved one can leave you feeling exhausted around the clock. Make sure that you take a break to deal with your emotional health so that you can start to feel less exhausted.

Take some time for yourself by having other family members or elderly home care providers take care of your loved one for you. Sort out what you need to do in order to feel better and then follow that plan.

If you or an aging loved one are considering Elderly Care Services in Concord NC, please contact the caring staff at Tender Hearted Home Care today. (704) 612-4132.