CaregiverAtHome gave a hug
4/7/2010 at 11:14 am
I end up feeling the same way quite often--frustrated. It comes and goes based on new things occurring and then things settling back down to "normal," whatever normal is at that time. I question mysel
...Read MoreI end up feeling the same way quite often--frustrated. It comes and goes based on new things occurring and then things settling back down to "normal," whatever normal is at that time. I question myself about the frustration also, and wonder why. The best I can figure is that I want my mom to be okay and not go through this (same way I felt with my father, who died nearly five years ago from complications of age-related vascular/circulatory dementia). I know Mama is afraid because of what she experienced with my dad's dementia process, so she denies everything. Plus she's a middle kid (sixth of eight) and used to saying "I didn't do it!" :-D
Whatever the case, I found myself frustrated and angry during my father's last year because I didn't understand anything about dementia. Now I understand it better from going through it once, plus I've gotten good help from a local support group. I quit going for a long time but have started attending again because Mama is going through some new stages and it feels like I need to get prepared. A local "Caregiver Tools" class is offered in my area and it seems to be excellent from the feedback I've heard. I plan to take it to help myself deal with the physical and emotional situations I'm dealing with.
A couple of things that help me are realizing that no two cases of dementia are alike because people are different, and a sense of humor really gets me through most days. I just try to find humor where I can. When that doesn't help, I reach out for support from others who have walked where I'm walking and just know how I'm feeling. They can't fix it, but they get it, and somehow that helps.
Sometimes they have a good idea I can use, and sometimes not. At any rate, know I'm sending a hug and hear what you're saying. I hope you find a way to comfortably deal with the makeup situation.
Best wishes.
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