Real-life tips on how to beat burnout, from experts who’ve been there.

You love the person you care for. Really. But you can't take another day of this day-in, day-out responsibility. Not one. More. Day.

If this describes you, you're not alone. According to the Family Caregiver Alliance, one-fifth of family caregivers—nearly two times that of the general population—suffer from depression.

Getting help isn't just important for your emotional well being but your physical health, too. Recently, researchers at the New York City Medical Center followed 406 spouses of people with Alzheimer's, all of whom cared for their partners at home. During the four-month study, one group received six sessions of individual and family counseling, plus regular phone calls of support. The other group received help and information only upon request.

The results: Those caregivers who received full support reported significantly better physical health for up to a year afterward, compared to the control group. The support services also seemed to improve the health of the loved one, and even delayed their placement in a nursing home.

Unfortunately, phone-in pep talks and good counselors aren't always available when you need them. To find out how others have coped, we talked to experts on aging and other professionals who've been caregivers themselves. Read on for what they had to say.