Hannah Baillie, Editor in Chief, 90Second Caregiver Patrick McGrath, OC, PhD, FRSC, Principal Scientist, 90Second Caregiver
Detrimental positivity
Detrimental positivity ...
Caregiver characteristics
Empathy, compassion, and perfectionism are common characteristics for caregivers. These characteristics can help caregivers see the positive parts of their role. These characteristics are often helpful, but they can sometimes be bad for a caregiver’s overall health.
Too much positivity?
Over-empathy, excessive compassion and harmful perfectionism can have bad consequences. Over-empathetic caregivers may start to experience the mental and physical suffering of the people they care for. Similarly, caregivers who strive for perfection in their role may experience burnout, more than caregivers who recognize that not everything can be done to perfection.
Overall, empathy, compassion, and doing one's best - if kept in balance - can increase caregiving success. The key is making sure that these characteristics are not overdone and do not negatively affect your mental or physical health.
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CALL TO ACTION...
Take a step back
Being too invested can affect your ability to make good decisions, and cause you to over-extend yourself. Take a step back to focus on your own well-being. This will help keep things in perspective. You can perform your caregiver role just as well, or even better, if your own wellness is also a priority.
Good enough
Caregivers who strive for perfection get very stressed. Instead of striving for perfection, aim for "good enough." You are more likely to achieve these results, less likely to feel like there is more you should do and you will also boost your confidence with this mindset.
Take a step back
Being too invested can affect your ability to make good decisions, and cause you to over-extend yourself. Take a step back to focus on your own well-being. This will help keep things in perspective. You can perform your caregiver role just as well, or even better, if your own wellness is also a priority.
Good enough
Caregivers who strive for perfection get very stressed. Instead of striving for perfection, aim for "good enough." You are more likely to achieve these results, less likely to feel like there is more you should do and you will also boost your confidence with this mindset.
Caregiver characteristics
Empathy, compassion, and perfectionism are common characteristics for caregivers. These characteristics can help caregivers see the positive parts of their role. These characteristics are often helpful, but they can sometimes be bad for a caregiver’s overall health.
Too much positivity?
Over-empathy, excessive compassion and harmful perfectionism can have bad consequences. Over-empathetic caregivers may start to experience the mental and physical suffering of the people they care for. Similarly, caregivers who strive for perfection in their role may experience burnout, more than caregivers who recognize that not everything can be done to perfection.
Overall, empathy, compassion, and doing one's best - if kept in balance - can increase caregiving success. The key is making sure that these characteristics are not overdone and do not negatively affect your mental or physical health.
Caregiver characteristics
Empathy, compassion, and perfectionism are common characteristics for caregivers. These characteristics can help caregivers see the positive parts of their role. These characteristics are often helpful, but they can sometimes be bad for a caregiver’s overall health.
Too much positivity?
Over-empathy, excessive compassion and harmful perfectionism can have bad consequences. Over-empathetic caregivers may start to experience the mental and physical suffering of the people they care for. Similarly, caregivers who strive for perfection in their role may experience burnout, more than caregivers who recognize that not everything can be done to perfection.
Overall, empathy, compassion, and doing one's best - if kept in balance - can increase caregiving success. The key is making sure that these characteristics are not overdone and do not negatively affect your mental or physical health.
CALL TO ACTION
Take a step back
Being too invested can affect your ability to make good decisions, and cause you to over-extend yourself. Take a step back to focus on your own well-being. This will help keep things in perspective. You can perform your caregiver role just as well, or even better, if your own wellness is also a priority.
Good enough
Caregivers who strive for perfection get very stressed. Instead of striving for perfection, aim for "good enough." You are more likely to achieve these results, less likely to feel like there is more you should do and you will also boost your confidence with this mindset.
Take a step back
Being too invested can affect your ability to make good decisions, and cause you to over-extend yourself. Take a step back to focus on your own well-being. This will help keep things in perspective. You can perform your caregiver role just as well, or even better, if your own wellness is also a priority.
Good enough
Caregivers who strive for perfection get very stressed. Instead of striving for perfection, aim for "good enough." You are more likely to achieve these results, less likely to feel like there is more you should do and you will also boost your confidence with this mindset.
Caregiver characteristics
Empathy, compassion, and perfectionism are common characteristics for caregivers. These characteristics can help caregivers see the positive parts of their role. These characteristics are often helpful, but they can sometimes be bad for a caregiver’s overall health.
Too much positivity?
Over-empathy, excessive compassion and harmful perfectionism can have bad consequences. Over-empathetic caregivers may start to experience the mental and physical suffering of the people they care for. Similarly, caregivers who strive for perfection in their role may experience burnout, more than caregivers who recognize that not everything can be done to perfection.
Overall, empathy, compassion, and doing one's best - if kept in balance - can increase caregiving success. The key is making sure that these characteristics are not overdone and do not negatively affect your mental or physical health.
CALL TO ACTION
Take a step back
Being too invested can affect your ability to make good decisions, and cause you to over-extend yourself. Take a step back to focus on your own well-being. This will help keep things in perspective. You can perform your caregiver role just as well, or even better, if your own wellness is also a priority.
Good enough
Caregivers who strive for perfection get very stressed. Instead of striving for perfection, aim for "good enough." You are more likely to achieve these results, less likely to feel like there is more you should do and you will also boost your confidence with this mindset.
Take a step back
Being too invested can affect your ability to make good decisions, and cause you to over-extend yourself. Take a step back to focus on your own well-being. This will help keep things in perspective. You can perform your caregiver role just as well, or even better, if your own wellness is also a priority.
Good enough
Caregivers who strive for perfection get very stressed. Instead of striving for perfection, aim for "good enough." You are more likely to achieve these results, less likely to feel like there is more you should do and you will also boost your confidence with this mindset.
Caregiver characteristics
Empathy, compassion, and perfectionism are common characteristics for caregivers. These characteristics can help caregivers see the positive parts of their role. These characteristics are often helpful, but they can sometimes be bad for a caregiver’s overall health.
Too much positivity?
Over-empathy, excessive compassion and harmful perfectionism can have bad consequences. Over-empathetic caregivers may start to experience the mental and physical suffering of the people they care for. Similarly, caregivers who strive for perfection in their role may experience burnout, more than caregivers who recognize that not everything can be done to perfection.
Overall, empathy, compassion, and doing one's best - if kept in balance - can increase caregiving success. The key is making sure that these characteristics are not overdone and do not negatively affect your mental or physical health.
CALL TO ACTION
Take a step back
Being too invested can affect your ability to make good decisions, and cause you to over-extend yourself. Take a step back to focus on your own well-being. This will help keep things in perspective. You can perform your caregiver role just as well, or even better, if your own wellness is also a priority.
Good enough
Caregivers who strive for perfection get very stressed. Instead of striving for perfection, aim for "good enough." You are more likely to achieve these results, less likely to feel like there is more you should do and you will also boost your confidence with this mindset.
Take a step back
Being too invested can affect your ability to make good decisions, and cause you to over-extend yourself. Take a step back to focus on your own well-being. This will help keep things in perspective. You can perform your caregiver role just as well, or even better, if your own wellness is also a priority.
Good enough
Caregivers who strive for perfection get very stressed. Instead of striving for perfection, aim for "good enough." You are more likely to achieve these results, less likely to feel like there is more you should do and you will also boost your confidence with this mindset.
ASSESSMENT
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ASSESSMENT
Please fill out and submit your assessment.
ASSESSMENT
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assessment, when selecting options, 1 is false, 5 is true.I can physically sense when the person I care for is in pain.please select an option..Taking time for myself makes me feel guilty.please select an option..When things are difficult, I tend to be hard on myself.please select an option..When the person I care for feels sad, I feel sad. please select an option..I get frustrated when things don’t go according to plan.please select an option..I tend to feel guilty for the condition of the person I care for. please select an option..I can't relax until everything on my to-do list is done.please select an option..
Please submit the form to get your assessment.
Personal Story. Personal Story.
After my son became ill, I became involved in almost all aspects of his life. I would organize his social activities, medical appointments, manage his schoolwork, communicate with his teachers, and every task in between. Sometimes it felt like we were the same person. When he experienced hardship, so did I. When he felt disappointment or failure, so did I. Our emotions seemed to be connected like a highway that ran between both of our brains. After carrying on this way for a few months, I began to feel overwhelmed, stressed, and on the verge of burnout. I was so focused on avoiding negative outcomes and supporting my son that it had consumed me.
After taking a step back, I realized that my perfectionist personality, combined with so much empathy, had led me to this point of near exhaustion. From then on, I gave some of the control back to my son. There was no need for me to manage his social relationships or schoolwork. While I had done this to help him, I realized that he could do this on his own and that my burnout would eventually lead to me being unable to help him in more critical ways. Creating a bit of distance between us has helped us both.
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PERSONAL STORY
After my son became ill, I became involved in almost all aspects of his life. I would organize his social activities, medical appointments, manage his schoolwork, communicate with his teachers, and every task in between. Sometimes it felt like we were the same person. When he experienced hardship, so did I. When he felt disappointment or failure, so did I. Our emotions seemed to be connected like a highway that ran between both of our brains. After carrying on this way for a few months, I began to feel overwhelmed, stressed, and on the verge of burnout. I was so focused on avoiding negative outcomes and supporting my son that it had consumed me.
After taking a step back, I realized that my perfectionist personality, combined with so much empathy, had led me to this point of near exhaustion. From then on, I gave some of the control back to my son. There was no need for me to manage his social relationships or schoolwork. While I had done this to help him, I realized that he could do this on his own and that my burnout would eventually lead to me being unable to help him in more critical ways. Creating a bit of distance between us has helped us both.
RATE OUR HEALTH LETTER
Breitborde NJ, López SR, Chang C, Kopelowicz A, Zarate R. Emotional over-involvement can be deleterious for caregivers' health: Mexican Americans caring for a relative with schizophrenia. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2009 Sep;44(9):716-23. doi: 10.1007/s00127-008-0492-0. Epub 2009 Feb 3. PMID: 19190836.
PERSONAL STORY
After my son became ill, I became involved in almost all aspects of his life. I would organize his social activities, medical appointments, manage his schoolwork, communicate with his teachers, and every task in between. Sometimes it felt like we were the same person. When he experienced hardship, so did I. When he felt disappointment or failure, so did I. Our emotions seemed to be connected like a highway that ran between both of our brains. After carrying on this way for a few months, I began to feel overwhelmed, stressed, and on the verge of burnout. I was so focused on avoiding negative outcomes and supporting my son that it had consumed me.
After taking a step back, I realized that my perfectionist personality, combined with so much empathy, had led me to this point of near exhaustion. From then on, I gave some of the control back to my son. There was no need for me to manage his social relationships or schoolwork. While I had done this to help him, I realized that he could do this on his own and that my burnout would eventually lead to me being unable to help him in more critical ways. Creating a bit of distance between us has helped us both.
RATE OUR HEALTH LETTER
Breitborde NJ, López SR, Chang C, Kopelowicz A, Zarate R. Emotional over-involvement can be deleterious for caregivers' health: Mexican Americans caring for a relative with schizophrenia. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2009 Sep;44(9):716-23. doi: 10.1007/s00127-008-0492-0. Epub 2009 Feb 3. PMID: 19190836.
PERSONAL STORY
After my son became ill, I became involved in almost all aspects of his life. I would organize his social activities, medical appointments, manage his schoolwork, communicate with his teachers, and every task in between. Sometimes it felt like we were the same person. When he experienced hardship, so did I. When he felt disappointment or failure, so did I. Our emotions seemed to be connected like a highway that ran between both of our brains. After carrying on this way for a few months, I began to feel overwhelmed, stressed, and on the verge of burnout. I was so focused on avoiding negative outcomes and supporting my son that it had consumed me.
After taking a step back, I realized that my perfectionist personality, combined with so much empathy, had led me to this point of near exhaustion. From then on, I gave some of the control back to my son. There was no need for me to manage his social relationships or schoolwork. While I had done this to help him, I realized that he could do this on his own and that my burnout would eventually lead to me being unable to help him in more critical ways. Creating a bit of distance between us has helped us both.
RATE OUR HEALTH LETTER
Breitborde NJ, López SR, Chang C, Kopelowicz A, Zarate R. Emotional over-involvement can be deleterious for caregivers' health: Mexican Americans caring for a relative with schizophrenia. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2009 Sep;44(9):716-23. doi: 10.1007/s00127-008-0492-0. Epub 2009 Feb 3. PMID: 19190836.
