When Caregiving Becomes an Obsession

Obsessive Caregiving

Caregiving can become almost overwhelming, but caregivers also can make it more overwhelming than it needs to be.  Yes, a patient needs a certain amount of care and love, and with Alzheimer’s a lot of care and love.  But you and they can be overwhelmed with too much.

Obsessive caregivers might:

•  Use caregiving to avoid facing other situations in their lives and work.
•  Become caught up in caregiving because they can’t say, “No.”
• Become too caring because it feeds their ego and results in many compliments from others.
• Be consumed by guilt (created by the patient and other family members) so become obsessive in their care for fear of criticism.
• Simply don’t realize they’re over caring.

I began to think more about this topic after reading articles by two caregivers who blog about Alzheimer’s and caregiving.

Obsessive Caregiving Can Be Harmful to Caregiver and Care Receiver by Carol Bradley Bursack at Minding Our Elders

Have You Taken Caregiving Too Far For Your Own Good? by Carol O’Dell at The Caregiver Blog

What do you think?  Can caregivers give too much care?