Being a caregiver is a lot of hard work. Being the caregiver of a T1D child is a twenty four hour a day job with no breaks. Whether your child is right next to you, at school, at a friend’s house or playing in a sporting event, their diabetes management is always at the forefront of your mind.
It is really important to recognize the signs of caregiver burnout. Your physical and emotional health impacts you directly as well as that of your T1D child and your family. Some of the common symptoms of caregiver burnout may include:
-Increased irritability
-A feeling of hypervigilance and the inability to relax
-Withdrawal and isolation
-Increased depressive symptoms
-Physical and mental exhaustion
Burnout is Real
Understand that caregiver burnout is very real. You are not overreacting and you are not failing. You are a person who is taking on the daily tasks of caring for a child with T1D. This is a normal reaction. People get tired and you are no different. Acknowledging your need for support is an important step
Seeking Support
There are several ways you can seek support. You may find that talking with other type 1 diabetic caregivers is helpful. You can join a support group for parents both in person, online or a combination of both. You may also decide that you don’t want to talk about diabetes at all and that’s ok. Finding a close friend, trusted family member or even a therapist where you don’t talk about diabetes at all may be what you need.
Learning Self-Compassion
It is only natural that we want the best for our children. More than likely you’ve heard all the scary statistics about type 1 diabetes and you want so desperately to “get it right”. It is crucial to remember that you cannot possibly do everything that a human organ (your child’s pancreas) used to do. That is not reasonable nor sustainable. Find ways to remind yourself that you are doing your best and your best is good enough. You are your child will both have diabetes days that are off and some that are downright hard and that is okay.
Finding Specific Type 1 Diabetes Support
If you are searching for a therapist that understands T1D, our office may be the right fit for you. I am a licensed therapist and I have been living with T1D since 1984. I am also the parent of a T1D child. If you find that other therapists don’t “get it” give us a call. We’d love to help support you as a T1D caregiver. Please call or text out office at 832-521-8809.
