I have a note on my desk that says “Have you reached your Braking point?” It’s a reminder that I need to be aware of my own needs and stop before I hit my “Breaking point”, that place where I am totally exhausted and not good for anything. My “Braking point” is the final safety check telling me it’s time to stop, reevaluate what I’m doing, and ask for help because I’ve reached the end of my personal reserve.

I know that CarePartner burnout, also known as compassion fatigue is real, I don’t want to experience it. I love my husband so much and feel that it is my responsibility to take care of him. The reality is that I need to make sure my husband is getting the best care available which may not be me. I need to be willing to admit that getting him proper care may mean bringing in someone else.

I’ve had a few days when I felt broken before I realized that it doesn’t do anyone any good for me to work that hard. A broken CarePartner is a risk to themselves as well as a danger to the one they love. When I am so tired I can’t see straight, I make mistakes, get grumpy and lose patience easily. I’m not able to provide the level of care my husband needs and deserves which is just not healthy or fair to either of us. I need to remember to “brake” before I “break” and we’ll both be better off.