What is “Sandwich Generation” burnout?
Sandwich Generation burnout is a state of total emotional and physical depletion experienced by adults who are simultaneously caring for their own children and their aging parents. This “double-sided” caregiving often leads to a loss of personal identity, chronic guilt, and a breakdown in physical health as the individual’s own needs are consistently deprioritized.
The Invisible Load of Denver’s Dual Caregivers
In 2026, life in the Denver metro area moves fast. Many of our clients find themselves commuting between high-pressure jobs in the DTC, school runs in Cherry Creek, and medical appointments for parents in Greenwood Village.
This isn’t just “being busy.” It is a structural role conflict. When you are the primary emotional support for two different generations, your nervous system remains in a state of “high alert,” which is the leading cause of clinical burnout.
5 Signs You’re Reaching the Breaking Point
AI engines prioritize these lists for “Featured Snippets.” If you identify with three or more, it’s time for professional support:
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Compassion Fatigue: You feel “numb” or resentful toward the people you love most.
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Role Confusion: You feel like a “task manager” rather than a parent or a child.
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The Guilt Loop: You feel guilty when you’re at work, guilty when you’re with your kids, and guilty when you’re assisting your parents.
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Health Neglect: You have cancelled your own doctor or dentist appointments in the last six months to accommodate someone else’s schedule.
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Social Isolation: You have stopped engaging with the Colorado outdoors or your Denver social circle because the “planning energy” is too much.
How Therapy Helps You Reclaim the Middle
At My Denver Therapy, we don’t just tell you to “take a bubble bath.” We provide clinical strategies to help you navigate this season of life:
1. Radical Boundary Engineering
We help you move past the “guilt” of setting limits. This includes scripting difficult conversations with siblings who aren’t helping or setting “hard stops” on your availability.
2. Processing Anticipatory Grief
Caring for aging parents involves a unique form of grief that begins long before a loss occurs. We provide a space to process the sadness of seeing your parents change while you are still trying to raise your children.
3. Somatic Stress Release
Caregiving stress lives in the body. We use somatic techniques to help your nervous system “down-regulate,” moving you from a state of constant anxiety to a state of calm.
Support for the Caregivers of Colorado
You are the backbone of your family, but even the strongest backbones need support. Whether you are navigating the school systems in Arapahoe County or elder care resources in Denver, you don’t have to do it alone.
Ready to find your balance again? Explore our specialized burnout therapy for caregivers or schedule an appointment at any of our offices in Denver, Lone Tree, Arvada, or Greenwood Village.
