We've been looking into Trigger Points, the things that convert stress from helpful to harmful. I've been thinking lately about caregivers, those who accept responsibility for the care of another person.

We talk a lot about our own challenges. Today I want to focus on the caregivers who are essential to helping us manage these challenges. Being a caregiver is incredibly difficult. We have heard from many of you about the stress that comes with being responsible for someone else, making sure they have the best life possible. The pressure to provide a life someone might not otherwise have can be mentally debilitating.

Let's look at common Trigger Points for caregivers:

 --Added Workload
--Changes In The Family
--Sudden Change In Loved One or Patient's Condition

To a certain point, the stress of being a good caregiver motivates him/her to work harder, to improve. When a Trigger Point like one of the above occurs, the stress becomes too great, and caregiver burnout begins.

Here is some more info about caregiver burnout, the signs to look for, and how to avoid it:
http://www.helpguide.org/…/caregiving-stress-and-burnout.htm