Caring for the Caregiver
As a teenager, I remember seeing the book “When someone you love is depressed: how to help your loved one without losing yourself” on my mother’s nightstand. I remember feeling appalled by seeing this book. I thought to myself, who needs this type of book? Is it that difficult? My teenage ego-centric brain could not understand why this book existed and thought my mom should get a life. I only recognized years later that she was, in fact, trying to get a life then.
Loving someone with serious mental illness (SMI) poses its unique challenges, even more so when engaging as their caregiver. Caregivers direct treatment, ensure medication compliance, manage doctor appointments, pay treatment bills, and do their best to ensure their loved one’s general safety. Research shows that caregivers of those with SMI experience multiple consequences of caregiver burden including emotional distress, exhaustion, physical health deterioration, familial dysfunction, economic hardship, and social isolation. Caregiving requires patience, consistency, and boundaries. It is physically and emotionally exhausting. One person becomes a caregiver’s world. And that’s not healthy for anyone.
Years of personal and professional experience have given me a deep understanding of caregivers' unique needs. A growing body of research confirms that caregiver support is critical to driving better health outcomes, lower costs, and happier lives. My practice focuses on supporting caregivers of family members with mental illness. Whether it's helping them advocate for their loved ones, determine appropriate next steps in their loved one’s care, set limits, or engage in regular self-care, I'm there to help caregivers every step of the way.
Looking back, my mom's book - while initially shocking - actually ended up shaping my career. I'm thankful for the opportunity to support caregivers, an often overlooked but truly essential part of successful mental health care.
