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 →
Embracing My Unknown
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 →
Making Friends With My Brain
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 →
Anxiety, Depression, and My Search for Answers
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 →
Reading and Me
I love to read. I always have. I was the kid who hid a book on my lap under my desk during class, so I could sneak in extra reading. When I was in the midst of a good story I was transported into the world of the author. The other kids would tease me,... Continue Reading →
It was like losing her twice… I’d rather die than have Alzheimer’s…
Today is one of those days when I feel cranky about the way people talk about dementia, and in particular, Alzheimer's Disease. I might not develop dementia, but then again I might. I probably won't develop Alzheimer's, but there is a possibility. I struggle each day to live my life to its fullest, and to... Continue Reading →
Driving Bravely
I've been trying to keep up to date on research about MCI, mNCD, and dementia. This week I read an article that upset me a bit: Getting lost in dementia – An overlooked danger? My first thought was, how can it be an overlooked danger? I think most people with memory problems have been worried... Continue Reading →
Talking with Medical Specialists
I recently had a long awaited appointment with a specialist, and I disappointed by the experience. I had to fight for the answers to my questions, and that's not easy for me nowadays. I had questions, and she just wanted to just say that my symptoms are all within the normal range, and then leave... Continue Reading →
Memory
Words skitter away I calm myself, coax them back And begin again. dawn bergacker Photo by Ravi Kant on Pexels.com
Researching Dementia
Last summer I was diagnosed with Mild Neurocognitive Disorder (mNCD). One of the first things I did was to read up on dementia, because that's the scary part. What if I eventually get dementia? What is it like to have dementia? I learned rather quickly to stay away from books written for caregivers. Most of... Continue Reading →