When Caregiving Leads to Burnout
Burnout isn’t just being tired—it’s the quiet erosion of the passion that once fueled you. For caregivers, it often arrives unnoticed, disguised as dedication, until one day the well runs dry.
In The Weight of Kindness, Sarah, David, and Mia each confront this slow unraveling. Sarah internalizes the pain of her clients. David carries the weight of lives he couldn’t save. Mia gives until there’s nothing left. Each believes, at some point, that they should be able to handle it all. That to struggle means to fail.
But here’s the truth: no one has endless capacity. The myth of the tireless helper is not only unrealistic—it’s dangerous. It teaches us to ignore the early signs of burnout, to glorify self-sacrifice, and to equate worth with output.
Real care—sustainable, compassionate care—starts with honest self-reflection. It begins when we stop asking, “How much more can I give?” and start asking, “What do I need to keep going?”
Acknowledging limits isn’t weakness. It’s wisdom. It’s the first step toward healing—for ourselves, and for those we serve.