Depression from Caregiving

Depression is not an uncommon effect on caregivers. After all, being a carer is a demanding role that can take an emotional and psychological toll on a person, especially on those who are caring for a close loved one. Cara Roberts Murez notes that depression is an ever-present concern for caregivers, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Programs and support are not available for carers and care-receivers in the same way that they were before quarantine and lockdown, making the journey with dementia more stressful and overwhelming. The Mayo Clinic also discusses depression symptoms in dementia caregivers, saying that feeling sad and hopeless, having physical ailments with no discernible cause, difficulty thinking and focusing, and suicidal thoughts are all signs that one may be depressed. In light of this information, carers who feel depressed are strongly encouraged to seek help and support from a psychologist or another mental health expert. They can also proactively reduce their risk for depression by being social and joining a support group, keeping time for themselves, and journaling about their experiences.

Become more informed about caregiver depression by visiting the pages: Depression Can Deepen Over Time for Alzheimer's Caregivers and Alzheimer's and dementia: Caregiver depression.