Caregiver Stress Inventory 
Rate from 1-5 where 1= not true and 5= extremely true
___ I don’t sleep well enough.
___ I drink too much.
___ I need drugs to get through this.
___ I don’t exercise enough.
___ I don’t have time or energy for friendships.
___ Date? What’s a date? (Including w/spouse if you have one)
___ I worry too much.
___ I don’t have enough energy.
___ I sleep too much.
___ I don’t know anybody in a situation like mine.
___ Nobody could understand what my life is like.
___ I feel guilty about not giving enough attention to some family members.
___ I don’t have time or energy for a hobby.
___ I feel guilty if I do something for myself.
___ Sometimes I wish I or another family member were not here.
___ Frequent headaches or stomachaches my doctor can’t help with.
___ Sometimes I think I just don’t care anymore.
___ Nobody can care properly for my child besides me.
___ I have never had a vacation away from my special needs family member.
___ I feel hopeless sometimes.
___ None of the professionals know or understand what is going on.
___ I don’t have any professional support/treatment.
___ I have poor eating habits.
___ I don’t stay in bed when ill.
___ I don’t get medical checkups for myself when I should.
___ I worry about where I will get enough money for the future.
___ I am afraid of my child.
___ I am afraid I will hurt my child.
___ I used to have a strong faith but now I’m not so sure.
___ Other family or friends disapprove of the way I care for my child.
___ I always put others’ needs before my own.
See warning signs? Take action. Taking care of yourself puts you in a better place to care for those you love. Nobody knows what you need when better than you.
See also “How can a caregiver care for themselves” and get a downloadable word doc both of the stress inventory and what follows which you can reproduce at http://intensivecareforyou.com/resources-for-free/
How can a caregiver care for themselves?
Ask for help
Exercise
Yoga
Meditation http://intensivecareforyou.com/resources-for-free/
Relaxation http://intensivecareforyou.com/resources-for-free/
Hobby
Time with friends
Support group- Tx p2p
Counseling
Hobby
Watch out for thinking errors http://intensivecareforyou.com/resources-for-free/
(Patterns of thinking that keep you stuck or magnify a problem)
Get a pet
Set goals for you- dream book http://intensivecareforyou.com/dream-book-getting-clear-want-making-real-now/
Problem-solving
Eat better
Identify Obstacles
Examine and change your story
Journal
Take time to rest
Let others take care of you
Let others take care of your child
Daily me time
Acceptance
Faith
Know what is stressful for you and take steps to manage:
-Take a step back and decide how big the problem really is
Do you spend more time actually confronted with the problem or more time and distress as you repeat the problem over and over in your mind?
Is the problem real, can you absolutely know for sure, or is it really just a story you tell yourself inside your head, or something in the future that has not happened that you fear and mistakenly think you know will happen?
Is the problem something you can change or influence, or is it beyond your control and better accepted?
Leave your ego out, allow others the freedom to follow their own path and learn their own lessons.
Place a check next to each statement below if you would like help in that area:
Someone to talk to about my problems.
Help in dealing with problems with husband/wife.
More time to be with my child.
Information about my child’s abilities.
Childcare help.
Help and information about behavior problems.
Better/more frequent therapy services for my child.
Counseling to help me cope with the situation and my caregiver stress.
More information about how I can help my child.
Help with sibling rivalry/jealousy of siblings.
More information about nutrition.
Special Equipment.
Friends who have a child like mine.
More time for myself.
More time to be with my spouse or friends.
Someone who understands what I am going through.
Help changing my mindset that:
-I’m stuck,
-Things will never change,
-My child won’t get better or live independently,
-Nobody can understand or help me.
What else would you like help with?
List helpful resources
Who Says Men Don’t Care?
https://www.webmd.com/men/features/men-are-caregivers-too#1
How To Be a Resilient Caregiver
http://www.caregiverconsortium.org/pdfs/ResilientCaregiver2014.pdf
The Caregiver Helpbook: Powerful Tools for Caregivers
Schmall, V, Cleland, M, Sturdevant, M, , Legacy Health Systems.(2000)
www.powerfultoolsforcaregivers.org (link is external)
Passages in Caregiving
Sheehy, Gail, Harper Collins, 2010
Organizations
Family Caregiver Alliance
National Center on Caregiving
785 Market Street, Suite 750
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 434-3388
(800) 445-8106
Website: www.caregiver.org
E-mail: info@caregiver.org (link sends e-mail)
Autism Speaks
Autism Society of America
Autismlink
CHADD for ADHD support groups
NAMI for Bipolar and mental health support groups
Care.com lists people who can care for special needs children or seniors in your area
Bluebonnet Trails MHMR
CRCG- in Texas each county provides a community resource coordination group, which provides staffings of local agencies to help determine needs, problem solve, and connect with resources for families caring for children with intense behavioral health needs