How to Care for Yourself While Caring for a Loved One: Support for Caregivers
By Growth Era Counseling & Wellness
The Invisible Weight of Caregiving
Caregiving isn’t just about helping with medications, appointments, or daily tasks. It’s emotional labor. It’s worry. It’s grief. It’s love. And it’s loss—sometimes all in the same day.
You might be navigating:
Watching someone you love suffer or decline
The stress of making medical or life decisions
Changes in your relationship with that person
The loss of your own freedom, identity, or plans
Financial strain and time pressure
The emotional weight of showing up every day, even when you feel depleted
It’s no wonder caregivers often feel like they’re drowning silently while the world continues to spin.
What Caregiver Fatigue and Burnout Can Look Like
Caregiver burnout doesn't always come with flashing warning signs. Often, it builds slowly over time, disguised as exhaustion or guilt.
You might be experiencing:
Chronic fatigue, even after sleep
Irritability or emotional numbness
Anxiety or depression
Feeling trapped or hopeless
Resentment toward the person you're caring for—or others who aren't helping
Withdrawal from social life and support systems
Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
Physical symptoms like headaches, tension, or illness
If any of this sounds familiar, you are not failing. You are overwhelmed, and you need care, too.
Grief and Resentment in Caregiving Are Normal
One of the most difficult (and often unspoken) truths about caregiving is this:
You can love someone deeply and still feel resentful, exhausted, or angry.
You might be grieving the relationship you once had.
You might feel alone in the responsibility.
You might miss your old life—or the version of yourself who had time to dream.
These feelings don’t make you ungrateful or unloving. They make you human. Therapy can help you give yourself permission to feel it all, without shame.
Ways to Care for Yourself as a Caregiver
You may not be able to change your situation, but there are ways to tend to your own needs—even if it’s in small, quiet ways.
Name Your Feelings
Grief, resentment, sadness, guilt—these emotions are real. Say them out loud. Journal them. Share them with someone who won’t judge you. Naming what you feel is the first step toward healing.
Set Gentle Boundaries
Even one boundary—like carving out 15 minutes a day just for you, or saying no to an added responsibility—can be powerful. Your time matters, too.
Ask for Help (Even If You Hate Doing It)
Whether it’s asking a sibling to take a shift, joining a support group, or hiring help if possible—remember: you were never meant to do this alone.
Build in Moments of Rest
Rest doesn't have to be a weekend getaway. It can be breathing deeply for 60 seconds, stepping outside for sunlight, or giving yourself permission to stop for the night.
Seek Therapy and Emotional Support
You don’t have to hold all of this inside. A therapist can offer a nonjudgmental space to process everything you’re carrying—and remind you that your wellbeing matters, too.
Therapy for Caregivers: A Safe Space Just for You
At Growth Era Counseling & Wellness, we see the caregivers. The tired ones. The angry ones. The grieving ones. The ones who are doing their best and still wondering if it’s enough.
In therapy, we help caregivers:
Process complex emotions like guilt, resentment, or anticipatory grief
Reconnect with their identity outside of caregiving
Set boundaries without guilt
Cope with burnout and emotional exhaustion
Find space for their own healing—even in the middle of hard seasons
Your role is important.
But you are not just a caregiver.
You are a person who also deserves care.
You Deserve to Be Supported, Too
If you’re ready to find space for yourself, even in the middle of caregiving, we’re here to walk with you.
Reach out to Growth Era Counseling & Wellness to schedule a free 15-minute consultation.
You don’t have to carry this alone anymore.