Dementia Care Here is the Silver Lining in Losing Your Temper

It takes the patience of a saint to deal with many of the odd, frustrating, STRESSFUL behaviors of dementia.by Paula Spencer ScottAlzheimer's Reading RoomUm, I'm no saint.I admit it: I've groused, "Dad! I just told you!" after he asked the score for the tenth time in five minutes.I've argued with my father-in-law that no, his"new bride" (imaginary) was not "coming any minute in the Buick,"even though I knew his frontotemporal dementia was behind his frequent delusions and hallucinations. I've walked out of a room when I couldn't stand any more crazy behaviors.Even as I knew better.Topic -Alzheimer's Care, Don't ArgueSubscribe to the Alzheimer's Reading RoomEmail:I've also taken my caregiving frustrations out on others —yelling at one of my kids, being unnecessarily snarky to the poor clerk on the phone.While on the front lines of living alongside dementia, most of us will say or do the wrong thing sometimes. We know we shouldn't. But it happens anyway.We snap.Positive Thoughts Drive the Dementia Caregiving ExperienceBut don't beat yourself up. There's a silver lining to that.First, here's what's really going on"Losing it" may not be a particularly attractive human quality, but it's a natural act. In the setting of Alzheimer's caregiving, it's maybe even an inevitable one.Blowing up lets you release a little steam. It's not the best way, but it works, momentarily —which is why we keep doing it.Our irritation seems tripped by something that's happening at the moment --endle...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - Category: Neurology Tags: Alzheimer's family alzheimers care anger care of dementia patients dementia care help alzheimer's help with dementia care stress temper Source Type: blogs