Those who care for people with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia can face real stress and they can be physically, emotionally as well as financially draining. However, their stressful conditions often go undetected and untreated.

In Georgia also, more than a half million people are providing care to as many as 130,000 people who are in the grip of Alzheimer’s or some other forms of dementia. Let’s have a look at some signs of caregivers’ stress:

Denial about the disease’s effect on the patient: In this condition, the caregiver can be seen saying that the patient is going to get better, even as everyone knows that it has no cure.

Showing anger or frustration at the patient: The caregiver says the patient is able to do things but he/she is just being stubborn.

A caregiver’s withdrawal from friends and social activities and anxiety about facing another day are also signs of stress. In addition, spirit-breaking depression and exhaustion also point to a caregiver’s stress.

Leslie Gregory, the president of the Georgia Chapter of Alzheimer’s Association, said, “Its normal to need a break from caregiving duties. No one can do it all by themselves. Consider taking advantage of respite care or help from family and friends to spend time doing something you enjoy.”

It is worth-mentioning here that the United States is observing November as the National Family Caregivers Month as well as the National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month.