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Educators are caregivers to their students as well as to their colleagues. Some also have caregiving responsibilities at home — for a spouse, children or elderly parents. The associated stress can leave caregivers feeling frustrated, impatient, overwhelmed and exhausted. It’s a lot of pressure and it takes a toll.

Symptoms

• Feeling exhausted; unable to complete tasks.
• Feeling irritable at work over things that didn’t cause you stress in the past.
• Excessive smoking or drinking.
• Feeling isolated or abandoned.
• Sleeping too much or too little.
• Having difficulty prioritizing.
• Losing interest in activities you used to enjoy.
• Feeling guilty about not doing enough at work or at home.
• Does that describe you? If so, it’s time to take action.

Coping strategies

• Let trusted colleagues know what’s going on so you’re not alone in this.
• Ask for help — and say yes when colleagues offer to do something for you.
• Learn to prioritize and delegate.
• Make stress your friend: Research shows that those who embrace stress have the longest lives (see resources below).
• Plan activities you enjoy.
• Join a support group for caregivers.
• The UFT Member Assistance Program will be offering a caregiver support group in January 2018. For more information, email mapinfo@uft.org or call 212-701-9620.
  Now for the second year, MAP, in collaboration with the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Family Support Program of NYU Langone Medical Center, is offering a free workshop on Nov. 16 on coping with the stress of caregiving for someone who is suffering from progressive memory loss. Get more information and register at http://www.uft.org/files/uft-dementia-support-flier-2017.pdf .
  For additional resources on relieving caregiver stress, visit www.uft.org/your-well-being.