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Caring for Yourself

Taking care of a loved one with schizophrenia can place a burden on schizophrenia caregivers. It’s important to take care of you, too.

Caregiver Burdens

The burden of caregiving can weigh heavily on you, as caregivers often juggle mental, emotional, physical, and financial responsibilities all at once. Discover how varying pressures of caregiving may make navigating your personal and professional responsibilities a difficult act to balance.

Mental

You may feel unrecognized and unsupported leading to a sense of invisibility and undervaluation despite the immense responsibility you carry.

Emotional

The emotional labor of caregiving can be intense, requiring constant empathy, patience, and support, even when you may feel emotionally depleted yourself.

Physical

You may juggle multiple physical tasks while caring for your loved one, which can compound your physical exhaustion. This can lead to burnout, chronic fatigue, and a weakened immune system, among other strains.

Financial

You may face reduced income by limiting working hours or leaving work entirely to care for your loved one. The financial burden of caregiving can also include out-of-pocket expenses that aren't fully covered by insurance.

Caregiver Mental Health Tips

Caregiving and mental health go hand-in-hand. It can be easy to put other people’s needs before your own, but your first responsibility is to take care of yourself. When you’re feeling your best, you’re more able to help those who depend on you. Here are a few reminders:

Keep a Positive Mindset

Set realistic expectations and goals, and accept that sometimes you cannot fix things for your loved one. Try to focus on what is going right for your loved one, not what is challenging.

Take Time Out for You

Prioritizing mental health for caregivers is something that may be overlooked. It’s important to have a balanced life, so spend time with family and friends, try to get enough sleep, eat well, and keep stress levels down by exercising or finding other ways to relax.

You’re Not in This Alone

There are people around you who can help you care for your loved one. Speak up if you think other friends or family members can help, and accept help when it’s offered for small tasks like errands. There are also nonprofit resources that can be of assistance.

Did You Know?

Women caregivers experience unique health consequences. Women who provide long-term care often experience chronic stress, lack of sleep, and are at a higher risk of developing chronic conditions compared to their male counterparts, which leads them to neglect their overall health.

Caregiver Journal Worksheet

Get started on recording the schizophrenia recovery process by downloading the Caregiver Journal Worksheet.

Download Worksheet

Caregiver Self-Care Guide

Schizophrenia caregivers' problems, like finding time to care for oneself, are important to keep in mind. This guide offers tips to keep you healthy and balanced.

Download Guide

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Tips for Caregivers

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Caregiver Burdens

Mental

You may feel unrecognized and unsupported leading to a sense of invisibility and undervaluation despite the immense responsibility you carry.

Emotional

The emotional labor of caregiving can be intense, requiring constant empathy, patience, and support, even when you may feel emotionally depleted yourself.