The personal cost of caring
- Melissa de Lusignan
- Sep 6, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 30, 2025

Being a caregiver is one of the most meaningful roles a person can step into. It’s an act of love, loyalty, and responsibility—but it’s also one of the most demanding. Carers often juggle an intricate mix of emotional, physical, and psychological pressures, and it’s all too easy to put your own needs at the very bottom of the list. Research shows the impact this can have: caregiving is strongly linked with chronic stress, burnout, anxiety, depression, and even physical health issues such as fatigue and sleep disturbances. On top of that, many carers quietly carry feelings of guilt, frustration, or isolation—especially when support or respite is hard to find. And while every caregiving journey looks a little different, many of the challenges are shared:
Boundary setting and guilt
It’s not easy to say no when someone depends on you. Many caregivers struggle to set healthy boundaries that could protect their wellbeing. And when they do manage to carve out space for themselves, guilt or a sense of “not doing enough” can creep in.
Self-care slipping away
We all know self-care matters, yet for carers it’s often the first thing to fall away. Neglecting personal health might feel unavoidable in the moment, but over time it leads to even greater stress, exhaustion, and overwhelm.
Sleepless nights and fatigue
Studies suggest that between 60% and 80% of caregivers experience poor sleep quality. A lack of restorative rest doesn’t just leave you tired—it can build into chronic fatigue that touches every part of daily life.
Loneliness and isolation
Caring can be lonely. Many caregivers report feeling cut off from friends, family, or their usual social circles. During the pandemic, over 40% of carers said their sense of isolation worsened—highlighting just how real and painful this aspect can be.
Financial and time pressures
Between the direct costs of caregiving, the possibility of reduced income, and the challenge of balancing work, life, and caring responsibilities, it’s no wonder many carers feel squeezed for both time and money.
Identity shifts and role confusion
Caring for someone can blur roles and change relationships. Over time, this can leave caregivers feeling unsure of themselves, or as though parts of their personal identity have been put on hold.
Time to Recharge & Renew
Caring for yourself is not a luxury—it’s a necessity. When you nurture your own wellbeing, you don’t just feel better in yourself; you give yourself the strength and energy to continue showing up for those who need you.
That’s why I’ve created Recharge & Renew: a small, supportive 2-hour group hypnotherapy workshop designed especially for people who care for others. It’s a space to pause, breathe, and replenish your reserves—without judgement or pressure.
Through gentle group discussions, practical mindset tools, and guided hypnotherapy, you’ll discover simple ways to weave self-care into daily life, alongside deeply restorative techniques to calm your nervous system and ease stress.
Come as you are, and leave feeling seen, supported, and recharged from within.
✨ [Book your spot here] or contact me if you’d like to gift this workshop to someone you know who gives so much of themselves to others.

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