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In today’s episode let's unpack being in a funk,  or is it depression, or is the root cause burnout. 

A slump, rut, funk (or general feeling of weirdness) is a fairly short lived bad day or bad couple of days. Sometimes our slumps can be reactions to something that happened to us. Maybe you're feeling lonely in quarantine or your caregiving situation or you're upset because you were passed up time with friends since you can’t leave your loved one at home.  

Everyone has off days where they feel tired, irritable, and sad. It’s normal to feel sadness as a response to challenging life events , but sometimes these feelings can stick around for a while if left unaddressed and make it difficult for you to get through each day. 

Depression impacts almost every part of your life, interfering with how you think, feel, and go about your daily activities like sleeping, working, and socializing. Some common symptoms of depression include:  feeling “empty”, lack of energy, difficulty concentrating , difficulty sleeping or sleeping more than normal, changes in appetite or weight, feelings of hopelessness, loss of interest in hobbies or activities , irritability or restlessness, aches and pains without clear physical causes or thoughts of death or suicide.

 Although some people’s depression can be influenced by major life events,  or brought on my your caregiver situation like seeing your loved one sick or being isolated and more. The truth is that depression can happen to anyone without cause or warning. 

It’s important to note that depression exists on a scale from mild to severe, but even in mild cases it should be taken seriously. Depression is not simply a “bad mood” or something that someone can “snap out of,” but luckily it is very treatable.

Self-care is a key component to living a happy, healthy life and between your diet, exercise, daily routines, and social interactions there are plenty of steps you can take to influence your mood. As you move through your depression, be open to trying new approaches.  

1. Eat a Healthy Diet
2. Moving your body 
3. Sun and Fresh Air
4. Get Quality Sleep
5. Socialize with Friends and Family 
6. Plan Fun Activities
7. Be Kind to Yourself

Any level of depression should be taken seriously. Seeking professional help is a sign of bravery and self-respect because it shows that you are dedicated to caring for your mind and body.   Everyone experiences low points in their life and their mental health, but depression is a treatable mental illness and you can recover. 

Another thing to consider is.. are you burning yourself out.  Burnout is caused by excess stress over a sustained period of time. It can make us feel drained, foggy-headed, unable to cope, and this can lead to compassion fatigue, or losing the will to care for your loved one. 

Caregivers often put the needs and interests of their loved one ahead of themselves, neglecting their own wellbeing in the process. Having unrealistic expectations is one reason that may contribute to the stress that caregivers face.

Warning Signs of Caregiver Burnout are lack of energy,  overwhelming fatigue, sleep problems, changes in eating habits, feelings of hopelessness, withdrawing from, or losing interest in, activities you once enjoyed, neglecting your own physical and emotional needs, feeling like caregiving is controlling your life, becoming unusually impatient, irritable or argumentative , anxiety, depression or mood swings, difficulty coping with everyday things, headaches, stomachaches, and other physical problems. or lowered resistance to illness.

Oftentimes, a caregiver is unable to recognize that they’re inching toward burnout.  Care

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