Dementia caregiving impacts many aspects of a caregiver’s life, including emotional well-being. Caregivers may find themselves navigating unpredictable emotional terrain, balancing practical responsibilities with the evolving needs of someone they care deeply about. It is common to feel both committed and overwhelmed, hopeful and exhausted, connected yet isolated.
Everybody will have a unique experience with caregiving. There may be days when you believe you can cope well, and days when you feel you cannot. You may find it easier to handle some aspects of caring while finding others challenging. However, it is crucial to acknowledge your own need for support and seek assistance if being a caregiver is getting too overwhelming. Feeling healthy and supported can have a positive impact on both you and the person you care for.
Coping with Difficult Emotions
Experiencing a wide range and intensity of emotions might be one of the most challenging aspects of caring for someone with dementia. This is perfectly understandable, and you are not alone. It does not make you a bad person if you feel negatively about the situation or the person you are caring for. In fact, this is quite common.
Being aware of your feelings can help you cope with them more effectively. When stress rises, pause to identify what is driving it. You may be feeling stretched thin from constant multitasking, weighed down by worry about changing care needs, or emotionally taxed from the lack of personal time. Recognizing the source of these feelings allows you to respond more effectively and make choices that protect both your well-being and your ability to provide care.
Feeling Stressed
Stress is an inevitable part of dementia caregiving, often building gradually as responsibilities increase and emotional demands intensify. Many caregivers experience chronic tension, mental fatigue, and moments of emotional strain while managing daily care, decision-making, and shifting behavioral changes. These pressures can take a significant toll if not acknowledged and addressed.
Focusing on emotional well-being helps caregivers maintain balance amid these challenges. By recognizing signs of stress early, practicing intentional coping strategies, and allowing for personal recovery, caregivers can sustain their ability to provide compassionate and effective support.
Feeling Guilty
Some feelings, such as frustration, can be typical reactions to the situation. Other emotions may be more challenging to manage. Guilt is one emotion that can be very difficult to cope with.
Among the possible causes of guilt are:
- Anger or frustration toward the individual you are looking after
- Believing that you are doing things “wrong” or that you are not providing adequate care for the individual
- Feeling that you’re not handling things well as other caregivers do
- Thinking you have had enough of being a caregiver
- Desiring to spend time by yourself
- Disliking how caring affects your life and the fact that you never “chose to do it.”
- Being frustrated with the person now or not being more patient with them when their symptoms were developing
- Failing to take care of yourself or spend time with your friends or other family members, especially your kids
- The challenging choices you must make, such as placing the dementia patient in a care facility or making arrangements for someone else to take care of them.
Recognize when you are struggling
Caregivers frequently reach a crisis point before realizing they’ve been struggling for some time. Your physical and emotional well-being may rapidly deteriorate as a result. Both you and the person you are caring for may suffer as a result. However, recognizing early symptoms of struggle might help you receive support as soon as possible.
The following signs may indicate that you are struggling:
- Feeling depressed or hopeless
- Constantly feeling anxious and tense
- Lack of concern or strong negative thoughts towards the individual you are caring for
- Frequently overtaken with irritation, agitation, or anger
- Having trouble falling asleep
- Missing appointments.
You must speak with your general practitioner if you are having trouble coping or if you are feeling depressed, anxious, or stressed. Assistance such as counselling or additional support is available. Talking to loved ones or friends might be beneficial.
Tips to cope with negative emotions
Caregivers often feel guilt, anger, and frustration, and it is important not to feel ashamed of these emotions. Shame prevents us from being truthful and asking for assistance when we need it.
While negative emotions are common, learning to manage them can support your health and well-being. Although you can not control your emotions, you can learn and practice how to deal with them.
Below are some tips that may help you deal with negative emotions.
- Anger over the situation is very natural. Take a moment to breathe deeply while counting to ten, then try some exercise or engage in other stress-relief activities, like meditation, to help keep your body and mind at ease. Seeking expert assistance and finding regular respite are crucial if you are experiencing persistent anger.
- When it becomes challenging to take time off from providing care, many caregivers feel alone and isolated. You may lose friends and relatives, or they may not know how to support you. It is essential to plan for taking breaks from caregiving to enjoy time with others.
- Anxiety and stress are prevalent. Make an effort to pinpoint the precise cause of your anxiety. For example, are you concerned about safeguarding your financial resources? Are you concerned about your mental and physical well-being? Understanding the cause of your anxiety can help you identify particular techniques for reducing your level of anxiety. Determine whatever techniques, such as exercise, meditation, respite, etc., help you manage your anxiety.
- Remembering that you are dealing with a challenging situation and trying your best to support the individual can be beneficial. Try to accept that you might need assistance with some tasks while concentrating on what you can achieve.
- Nobody is perfect, and everyone experiences frustration and makes mistakes from time to time. Treat yourself with kindness. Dementia is a complex, unpredictable, and progressive disease. Thus, things may gradually change over time. It may be challenging to recognize the extent to which relationships and emotions have changed as a result.
- Avoid comparing your situation or yourself to those of other caregivers. They may seem to be coping far better than you. But each person’s experience with dementia is different. Everyone’s case will be unique, and they will each confront their own challenges. Some people may find things difficult that you don’t, but you may struggle with things that they seem to find simple.
- Look for the positives. According to research, a more optimistic attitude towards caregiving is associated with improved health outcomes for the caregiver [1]. It is unrealistic to expect a caregiver to be cheerful all the time. However, recognizing the benefits and what makes giving care fulfilling can help lessen the stress of caring for others.
Setting out priorities
Caregivers frequently have to multitask. This might be difficult to handle and leave you fatigued both physically and mentally.
You can also feel conflicted about your various obligations. You may be juggling other crucial responsibilities while trying to care for the dementia patient. It includes managing a household, caring for children or family members, working, or addressing personal health challenges.
You won’t always be able to control everything, despite your best efforts. It is crucial to recognize when your caregiving responsibilities have become overwhelming. If possible, you may need to step back from certain aspects of the role. It can be challenging when others try to help, yet give you advice that is not relevant to your situation. Keep in mind that you can’t do everything by yourself and that you won’t be able to satisfy everyone.
Here are a few ways that can assist you:
- Determine what you genuinely need to complete for the upcoming week or month, as well as what is less important. Prioritize the most crucial ones.
- Create a to-do list to keep track of your daily tasks and check them off as you finish them. You may feel more in control as a result. Putting ideas down on paper can help you get rid of racing thoughts.
- Let people know what they can do to help you relieve some of your stress. Picking up groceries or medication is an example of little chores that can have a significant impact.
- It is normal to have difficulties, so don’t be too hard on yourself.
Take a well-deserved break
Finding time for yourself can be challenging when you are taking care of someone who has dementia. However, taking regular breaks from caring and engaging in enjoyable activities is critical for your personal well-being. Taking time for yourself will help you manage things more effectively.
Make time every day to do something you enjoy, whether alone or with the person you care for. Additionally, this could offer the dementia patient an opportunity to try new activities and shift from their daily routine. Little things (such as listening to music you enjoy) can have a significant impact.
When you do have some alone time, consider using it to, for example, manage your finances. Alternatively, you might wish to take a “time out,” such as going out to coffee with a friend, engaging in a favorite hobby, or taking care of yourself. It is beneficial to take some time to think and unwind. However, socializing is also crucial for your general health.
Spending time away can make you both feel less stressed and frustrated. It is not necessary to take extensive breaks from caring; a little alone time can have a significant impact.
Ask someone you know to spend a few hours with the individual you are caring for so you can take a break. This could be a relative or friend. You could also get assistance from your local authority. They may be able to provide “respite care,” which allows you to take a break. It could last for a few hours, days, or even weeks.
Donate Today to Support Alzheimer’s Family Caregivers!
Caregiving is a demanding task that often leaves the caregivers physically, emotionally, and financially unstable. The least we can do is to try to alleviate some of their burden by supporting them via donations.
November is National Family Caregivers Month! Let’s honor the dedication and sacrifices of the Alzheimer’s family caregivers who devote their lives and resources to caring for their loved ones! Don’t forget to support them, which you can do by acknowledging their hard work and donating as much as possible: https://www.alzra.org/donate-now/
References
- Lamont, R.A., Quinn, C., Nelis, S.M., Martyr, A., Rusted, J.M., Hindle, J.V., Longdon, B., Clare, L. and IDEAL Study Team, 2019. Self-esteem, self-efficacy, and optimism as psychological resources among caregivers of people with dementia: Findings from the IDEAL study. International Psychogeriatrics, 31(9), pp.1259-1266.
- Your emotional wellbeing as a carer for a person with dementia. Alzheimer’s Society. https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/help-dementia-care/caring-for-person-dementia. Accessed: 24th November, 2025.
- Caregiver Well-Being. University of California San Francisco. https://memory.ucsf.edu/caregiving-support/caregiver-well-being. Accessed: 24th November, 2025.
- Taking Care of Yourself: Tips for Caregivers. National Institute on Aging. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/caregiving/taking-care-yourself-tips-caregivers. Accessed: 24th November, 2025.
