My attempt to live Joyfully with MCI/mNCD/Pre-Dementia
I follow a few MCI groups on Facebook, and lately on one we've been talking about tricks we use to remind ourselves and keep track of things, and it got me thinking about the things I do. These are some of my compensatory behaviors. I can only do one thing at a time well. So,... Continue Reading →
I love autumn. The air is crisp. The leaves are glorious colors. This autumn I'm pleased to be out exploring. It's been about a month now since I started night-time oxygen, and some of my mind fog has gone away. I still have good days and bad days, but all of my days are a... Continue Reading →
Conversation is hard for me now, but I'm adapting. I think it helped to have the pandemic start at about the same time I was diagnosed with a Mild Neurocognitive Disorder (mNCD), because I had some quiet time to adapt. I was able to practice with my family, and on Zoom. I've been open with... Continue Reading →
I want to find out why I have young onset cognitive decline. I've been doing the things that are recommended, like following a Mediterranean diet, exercising regularly, losing weight, socializing, and playing brain games, but my memory is getting worse. A couple of my doctors have wanted me tested for sleep apnea. I had two... Continue Reading →
It feels like I ask my husband's opinion for everything nowadays. He's an engineer, and I have always asked for his input, but now I'm asking much more often. And, I'm asking about decisions I used to be comfortable making myself. I find it demoralizing to need help or reassurance so often. I refuse to... Continue Reading →
People with dementia do not recognize their family, they're angry and paranoid, they wander off if not watched closely, and they completely lose their ability to communicate. That's what many people think, but it's simply not true. Many people with dementia live independently and happily for decades after diagnosis. Many of us with mild cognitive... Continue Reading →
I just finished listening to Pema Chodron's "Embracing the Unknown," which is about the Tibetan Book of the Dead. I find the concept of bardo quite interesting. Bardo is the space between life and death. Having cognitive impairment feels like a part of me is dying/has died, and sometimes I think I should be going... Continue Reading →
I just finished listening to the audio book "Making Friends With Your Mind" by Pema Chodron. Pema is an American Buddhist nun in the Tibetan tradition. I find Buddhist psychology helpful. We all suffer, and there ways to suffer less. I like the thought of coming to terms with my cognitive impairment by becoming friends... Continue Reading →
Tell them I was not lost I may have sometimes lost my place But I was not lost I was there Tell them I was a complete person I may have seen life from a different angle But no parts were missing I was there Tell them I felt love I felt kindness And I... Continue Reading →
Which came first, was I depressed before I had cognitive decline, or was my cognitive decline caused by depression and anxiety? Every once and then I marvel at how well I'm handling my diagnosis of a Mild Neurocognitive Disorder (mNCD), and then I remember that I'm medicated. I started seeing a therapist, because I needed... Continue Reading →
Living the Good Life With a Mild Cognitive Disorder 