Tending to Your Own Mental Health as a Caregiver

Thrive • February 18, 2022
By Thrive Reno Therapist Casey Rollins, MSW, LSW, CSW-Intern

If you have an aging parent, child with special needs, sick spouse, or any loved one unable to fully care for themselves, you may find yourself in the role of a caregiver. Caregivers can also be paid professionals. 

Depending on the needs of the person in their care, caregivers help individuals with many daily tasks, such as grocery shopping, medication monitoring, and housekeeping. As a caregiver’s life can be heavily centered around the needs of others, both professional and family caregivers commonly neglect to nurture their own mental, emotional, and physical well-being. 

Caregivers may experience mental and emotional health struggles brought on by:

  • Isolation : Consumed by their role, caregivers may feel isolated from their family, friends, and peers, especially if others are not sharing in the responsibilities.
  • Financial strain: Many unpaid caregivers channel their financial resources into caring for their loved ones. 
  • Sacrifice of self-care: Caregiving is generally a constant, on-demand obligation. As such, many caregivers aren’t able to spend ample time alone, engage in activities they enjoy as often as desired, or practice sufficient self-care
  • Emotional distress: Facing worry over their loved one’s well-being and pressure to ease their loved one’s discomfort, caregivers commonly experience emotional distress. 

THREE TIPS FOR PROTECTING YOUR MENTAL HEALTH AS A CAREGIVER

1. Check in with yourself.

Instead of suppressing your thoughts and emotions, take time to honestly consider how you feel, what you’re thinking, and what your needs might be. By acknowledging your physical, mental and emotional states, you can take strides to nourish your well-being.

2. Ask for help.

Reach out to other loved ones for support when you’re feeling overwhelmed. Sometimes, a little delegation can go a long way in lightening your load and feeling less alone in caregiving endeavors. You may also consider taking advantage of community and national resources for caregivers. The National Alliance for Caregiving provides an extensive list of support dedicated to caregivers here

3. Rest.

By prioritizing sleep and relaxation, you can feel recharged, energized, and even inspired in your role as a caregiver.

INVEST IN YOUR WELL-BEING

As a caregiver, keep in mind that you’re human and you can only handle so much. You too, have real and valid physical, mental, and emotional needs. Just as you give to others, you should also give to yourself. Taking time to invest in your well-being may mean allowing yourself the time and space to attend therapy, which can provide you with an opportunity to process and better understand your experiences, and develop strategies for overcoming challenges. If you’d like to learn more about Thrive’s therapeutic services , reach out .  

About the Author

Thrive Reno Therapist Casey Rollins, MSW, LSW, CSW-Intern

Casey Rollins, LSW, CSW-Intern, received her bachelor’s degree in psychology with an emphasis in addiction treatment services at the University of Nevada, Reno. She went on to receive her master’s degree from Simmons University in Social Work. Casey has experience working with veterans, children with neuro developmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder, eating disorders, anxiety disorders, and behavioral issues. Casey is passionate about working with individuals in helping them to understand that rewriting their story is possible. She believes that we, whether individually, or collectively, are allowed to begin anew at any point along our journey in life. Casey is also dedicated to the treatment and advocacy of the impacts of systemic and interpersonal trauma for Black youth as well as all People of Color. She believes this journey of healing is yours, whenever you are ready, you are welcomed with fierce compassion. Casey sets forth interactions with others with the phenomenal and late Maya Angelou in mind, “just like moons and like suns, with the certainty of tides, just like hopes springing high, still I rise.”

In her free time, Casey enjoys spending time with family and friends, creating artwork, writing poetry, jamming out to music at any given moment, spending time connecting in nature, and is a self proclaimed movie buff.

Download our free wellness guide.

Discover the power of small, sustainable changes with "How to Thrive: 10 Simple Habits for Healthy Living." This guide offers practical, easy-to-follow habits that promote physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

August 21, 2025
When Emma was 8, her parents noticed her food choices shrinking. At first, they assumed it was just picky eating — “She’ll outgrow it,” friends said. But by 10, Emma would only eat crackers, cheese, and chicken nuggets. Family dinners became nightly struggles, her growth slowed, and she skipped birthday parties to avoid “strange food.” Her parents felt powerless, her brother grew frustrated, and outings dwindled. What began as food avoidance soon reshaped the rhythm of the entire household. When children avoid food, most parents expect it’s a passing stage. But when restriction deepens, shrinks to only a few “safe foods,” and begins affecting growth or health, families suddenly find themselves in unfamiliar territory. This is often where Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) emerges — with effects that extend far beyond the plate. As providers, we need to be attuned to these patterns. It’s tempting to dismiss them as “no big deal,” yet for many families, they are life-altering. Sadly, Emma’s story is not unusual. Mealtimes as Battlegrounds Families living with ARFID often describe mealtimes as emotionally charged, exhausting, and unpredictable. What should be a chance to connect around the table can feel more like a negotiation or even a standoff. Parents wrestle with whether to push their child to try a new food or give in to the same “safe foods” again and again to avoid tears, gagging, or complete meltdowns. This ongoing tension can make mealtimes dreaded rather than cherished. Siblings, too, are affected. Some may feel resentful when family meals are limited to what only one child will tolerate. Others may act out in response to the constant attention the child with ARFID receives. Over time, the dinner table shifts from a place of nourishment and bonding into a stage for conflict, anxiety, and guilt — a pattern that can erode family cohesion and resilience. Social Isolation and Missed Experiences ARFID impacts more than what happens at home; it influences how families engage with the world around them. Everyday events — birthday parties, school lunches, vacations, even extended family dinners — become sources of stress. Parents may pack special foods to avoid confrontation or, in many cases, decline invitations altogether to protect their child from embarrassment or overwhelm. This avoidance can lead to an unintended consequence: isolation. Families miss out on milestones, friendships, and traditions because of the unpredictability surrounding food. The child may feel left out or ashamed, while parents grieve the loss of “normal” family experiences. This social withdrawal can compound the anxiety already present in ARFID and deepen its impact across generations. Emotional Toll on Parents The emotional strain on parents navigating ARFID is significant. Many describe living in a constant state of worry — Will my child get enough nutrients? Will they ever grow out of this? Am I doing something wrong? This worry often spirals into guilt and self-blame, particularly when outside voices dismiss the disorder as mere “picky eating.” In addition, the pressure to “fix” mealtimes can strain marital relationships, creating disagreements over discipline, feeding strategies, or medical decisions. Parents may also feel emotionally depleted, pouring all their energy into managing one child’s needs while inadvertently neglecting themselves or their other children. Without support, this chronic stress can lead to burnout, depression, and disconnection within the family system. The Role of Providers For clinicians, ARFID must be viewed not only as an individual diagnosis but as a family-wide challenge. Effective care requires attention to both the clinical symptoms and the family dynamics that shape recovery. Parent Support: Educating caregivers that ARFID is not their fault, offering psychoeducation, and helping them reframe mealtime struggles as part of the disorder — not a parenting failure. Family-Based Interventions: Coaching families in structured meal support, communication strategies, and gradual exposure work so parents don’t feel powerless. Holistic Care: Involving therapists, dietitians, occupational therapists, and medical providers ensures that the family does not shoulder the weight of treatment alone. When families are validated, supported, and given practical tools, the entire household can begin to heal. Treatment is not only about expanding a child’s food repertoire but also about restoring peace, resilience, and connection at home. Moving Forward ARFID may begin with one individual, but its ripple effects are felt across the entire family system. By addressing both the psychological and relational dimensions, providers can help transform mealtimes from a source of conflict into an opportunity for healing and connection. For those who want to go deeper, we invite you to join our upcoming training on ARFID , where we will explore practical strategies for supporting both clients and their families.
July 30, 2025
How to Recognize Overlapping Behaviors + A Case Study and Screening Tools to Help
July 17, 2025
As a parent, noticing alarming behaviors around food or routines in your child can raise some important questions. You might be asking yourself, “Is this an eating disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), or something else entirely?” Understanding the signs and differences between these disorders is key to getting your child effective, timely treatment. In this blog, we’ll break down the overlap between OCD and eating disorders, what signs to watch for, and how to get professional help. If you're a parent wondering “Is my child’s eating disorder actually OCD?” or “OCD vs eating disorder in teens,” know that you’re not alone and you’re in the right place to find specialized care for your child. What Is OCD? Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition where unwanted thoughts (obsessions) cause anxiety, leading to repetitive behaviors (compulsions) intended to ease that anxiety. OCD can be focused on any subject. Common obsessions include contamination, perfectionism, scrupulosity, and harm, but sometimes, the content of obsessions can be focused on food, body image, or weight. What Is an Eating Disorder? Eating disorders , like anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) involve disturbed eating behaviors and intense concerns about body weight or shape. These conditions go beyond dieting or “picky eating” and can become life-threatening without professional intervention. The Overlap: Why It Can Be Confusing OCD and eating disorders often share similar symptoms : Ritualistic eating (e.g., needing to eat foods in a certain order or at a certain time) Rigid rules about food (like only eating certain food groups or certain amounts of food) Excessive checking (like weighing food or body or repeated checking of expiration dates or thorough cooking) Avoidance behaviors ( like avoiding carbs, fats, or other food groups or avoiding places or objects that can trigger obsessions) Distress when routines are disrupted (either around mealtimes or exercise routines) So, How Can You Tell the Difference? Use the following chart to compare and contrast symptoms of OCD and eating disorders.
More Posts

Start your healing journey today

NEXT STEPS

Are you ready to find hope? We can't wait to connect you with the care you need. To get started with us, please reach out using the link below.   

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Learn more →

Perinatal

Mental Health

Learn more →

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Learn more →

Perinatal

Mental Health

Learn more →