Book Review: Somebody I Used to Know

Most adults are familiar with the topic of Alzheimer’s disease, but how many of us have had the opportunity to sit down with someone with Alzheimer’s and learn about their personal experience with the disease? Wendy Mitchell set about changing the narrative around Alzheimer’s with her memoir, Somebody I Used to Know. At fifty-eight, she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. She was working full-time and mothering her two twenty-something daughters, and as soon as she got the diagnosis, she began documenting her experiences with the disease through a blog called “Which Me Am I Today?” Her memoir is a summary of her experiences that starts with her diagnosis in July 2014. The book is written from two perspectives: First, Mitchell details her day-to-day life from a first-person perspective, then she juxtaposes her memories against a second-person narrative of her present experiences. The differing views provide an intricate and amplified perspective of what it’s like to live with Alzheimer’s. Mitchell’s story slowly unfurls by describing the initial symptoms that appeared — tripping while running, losing words periodically. As things progressed and more tests are run, she is finally diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Mitchell’s true character is revealed when she begins volunteering and getting involved with Alzheimer’s support groups and research. Not only does this provide insight into who she is with or without Alzheimer’s, but also provides furth...
Source: Psych Central - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Tags: Alzheimer's Book Reviews Creativity Disorders Family General Grief and Loss Memory and Perception Motivation and Inspiration Personal Stories Treatment Alzheimer's disease Experience life-changing Memoir Somebody I Used to Kn Source Type: news