Pictures as Words

Posted on April 8, 2019 by truthfulkindness

Tru here.

Some may have noticed that in social media i frequently use pictures now, instead of words,
and i am not the only one.
i think my verbal abilities are just declining much faster than my visual processing skills
(or even my photoShop skills, LOL).

as most know, composing words is much more time-consuming for me now.
A blog entry has increased to usually between 6 and 12 hours.
Having problems even composing brief replies to my dementia friends on social media.

i know i want to say something.
i want to give verbal hug, or tell them they are not alone,
in a way that shows i understand how they are feeling.
… but i cannot find words.

If husband is home then i will call him over and ask for his help composing the words.
if husband is not home, i now have quite a selection of pictures i have put together.
I try to find the picture that matches my feelings best, and just send the picture.
Or i might take the opportunity, and spend an hour or two composing a new picture.
(Sometimes even more time; husband says “very seldom less time”, LOL)

Whether in personal conversation, or textual conversation,
with increasing frequency, i cannot understand OR compile words;
Need pictures to understand what is said
… and need pictures to “speak my mind”.

But i have noticed that i am not the only one;
my dementia friends frequently just send a picture.
No words, just a picture of an animal or flowers, etc.
That shows i am not alone in this challenge ((smile)).

Started this entry,
then found i had already started another entry with the same title.
i suspect this is how i began my selection of pictures. So also attaching it here.
(hmmm; began this entry with 3hrs on 01Feb2019, then worked on it 4 other days,
but now no idea what entry i am talking about here,
or what pictures i am talking about attaching).
Gonna leave this paragraph as “trigger” for possible future remembrance.

…

.*.

Related Links.
Right-click on colored text and selecting “open in new tab”,
will allow you to return to this tab easily (at top of window) when you finish.
Remember, Links are on colored text, NOT the pictures.

Importance of Communication of various types >> https://truthfulkindness.com/2016/01/26/import-communication-pwd/ ;

My New Normal >> https://truthfulkindness.com/2014/07/26/my-new-normal/ ;

Tab/Communication >> https://truthfulkindness.com/?s=communication ;

* Admin issues: SHARE dementia awareness thru buttons below. Feel free to leave your thoughts in the form of comments, but please filter your comments with truthful loving kindness to all concerned. If interested in receiving notice of future blog postings, subscriptions are available through a “follow” button in the upper left corner (MS Explorer) or lower right (Safari, Mozilla Firefox and Chrome). If there is an advertisement below, I have no control over what is shown. My own full legal name is Truthful Loving Kindness. My current diagnosis is still Mild Cognitive Impairment, but my neurologist said I am in a unique position for helping because I have “one foot in each door”. Text Copyright © Truthful L. Kindness 08Apr2019. Tags are: communication, dementia, pictures, PLwD, verbal, visual, words, writing.

Rose Tyson, Dementia Bully

Posted on April 1, 2019 by truthfulkindness

Naming the Shamer.

in my opinion,
there is a huge vulnerability in sharing our thoughts online, so we must have hard shell to deflect criticism.

Regardless of my efforts to retain a positive attitude and attempts to find worthy topics to discuss on my blog,
every time i receive one of these letters Blaming and Shaming,
i find myself spending an hour or two in re-evaluation.

Yes; this person is obviously a Bully, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are always wrong in their conclusions.

PERHAPS she is right.

Despite my efforts to share from others, is this blog really self-promoting ?

Perhaps i really DON’T really have anything valuable to add to the conversation.

.
Obviously some folks feel that my blog is un-helpful and demeaning.
Is it worth the effort to write and SHARE my thoughts ?
Does it really assist folks now, or will it assist folks in the future ?

Is blogging really worth it ??

Online Bullying is becoming so prevalent that i have decided to begin naming names.
Rose was one of the first … and is also the most recent.

Rose Tyson (rose83616) began her negative comments with 8 paragraphs on 28 Apr 2015.
Excerpts are:
“I see no formal educational credentials that give credence to your right to speak as a dementia expert. …
I see only a self-serving opportunist. …
You are a pathetic panderer of
ego stroking,
a fraudulent attention seeker.

Please, take your little cut and paste newsletter, ((she is referring to Dementia Symptom Perspectives))
your self-promoting personal blogging
and go find another cause to support.
You do not belong in a population of truly ill people.
You demean the purpose of DAI.” ((Dementia Alliance International))
— Rose Tyson on 28Apr2015.

Rose obviously still feels the same, as most recent from Rose
(now slightly different eMail since she leaves out one of the 6s, with rose8316)
are excerpts from 03Dec2018 (re my friendship with Susan Suchan)
“Seriously? You have to make Susan all about you?
Let me share something with you….you will never be in the same class as Susan or Dena.
Please stop trying to make people think you were their closest friend.

They walked the walk….you simply talk with no substantive knowledge about dementia.”
— Rose Tyson on 03Dec2018

(above is a treasured photo of Susan and me)

12 Dec 2018
“… My guess is that you are mentally ill … Schizophrenia …”
— Rose Tyson 12Dec2018

and 25 March 2019
“… You add nothing new in terms of research or insight.

You have nothing to add …”
— Rose Tyson 25Mar2019

.*.

Several times i have mentioned conclusions from long-term psychological evaluation by medical doctor specializing in Psychology.
No; will NOT share doctor’s name to have her add it to the list of others she drags thru the mud in her latest rant.

Despite my efforts at positive perspective,
Rants like these usually undermine my confidence (and so writing abilities) for a time .
Rants like these discourage others who may wish to blog or share their conclusions or tips.
… This is the true dis-service for those with dementia, MCI, their core support persons, and others who would lend a hand
— or an encouraging word at appropriate times.

The collective knowledge
and caring spirit
of those who write and share their experiences
should not need to face this vicious criticism
for speaking their truth.

When i realize there is nothing positive in continued relationship with a Bully,
i regularly copy/paste to my “Negative Comments” file,
but then delete.
— i do not wish to get my friends agitated by trying to “protect” me …
and totally distract from the point of each specific blog entry.
That would be counter-productive.

For those wishing to start or continue blog-writing,
YOU are shining stars in the universe,
and i applaud your efforts.

— but watch out for the bullies (like Rose Tyson).
— Tru

.*.

Harry’s entry on Bullying >> https://truthfulkindness.com/index-persons-with-dementia-pwd/harry-urban/cyber-bullies/

Kate Swaffer >> https://kateswaffer.com/2015/05/09/not-suffering-bullies/

Index of Other Contributors >> https://truthfulkindness.com/index-persons-with-dementia-pwd/

List of other Bloggers >> https://truthfulkindness.com/links/

* Admin issues: SHARE dementia awareness thru buttons below. Feel free to leave your thoughts in the form of comments, but please filter your comments with truthful loving kindness to all concerned. If interested in receiving notice of future blog postings, subscriptions are available through a “follow” button in the upper left corner (MS Explorer) or lower right (Safari, Mozilla Firefox and Chrome). If there is an advertisement below, I have no control over what is shown. My own full legal name is Truthful Loving Kindness. My current diagnosis is still Mild Cognitive Impairment, but my neurologist said I am in a unique position for helping because I have “one foot in each door”. Text Copyright © Truthful L. Kindness 2019Mar31. Tags are: blog, bullying, dementia, PLwD, social media, writing.

((Previously, i had a notice here at base of each entry with announcement and Logo for HealthLine 2019 Best Alz Blogs. To my surprise, after HealthLine contacted me in January with fact that i was included in 2019 Best Alz Blogs, then announcing it publically on March 18, ten days later they decided against including writers with Mild Cognitive Impairment, and removed this blog from their listing, leaving only one first-person perspective. Now i am deleting each of those announcements of my inclusion on HealthLine Best Alz Blogs for 2019. i hope they soon decide to include at least one other first-person perspective in their “Best Alzheimers Blogs”.)) >> https://www.healthline.com/health/alzheimers-disease/best-blogs-of-the-year

FaceBook Friends (FaceBook Strategies 2)

Posted on March 25, 2019 by truthfulkindness

Tru here with second of two (2) FaceBook items regarding FaceBook Strategies:

This is speaking directly to my FaceBook friends living with dementia,
regarding FaceBook “FRIEND” status.

When someone asks for FaceBook (FB) “friend” status
and you see my name as mutual friend
that does NOT insure you will enjoy having them as a “friend”.
it does NOT mean they will be Truthful, Loving, or Kind.

However it DOES mean there is a good chance they said they are living with some type of dementia,
or a smaller chance they are a fellow dementia advocate as care-partner or professional.

i have many FB “friends” who are full of anger and bitterness. At times they can reflect that in hateful comments.
Also, many MANY folks have simultaneous conditions going on, — sometimes psychological conditions.
So my primary purpose for using FaceBook “notifications” tool is in order to by-pass FaceBook “news Feed”
( where many of the hate-ful comments and pictures are viewed ).
“Notifications” are very seldom forwarding what someone else says or other folk’s pictures.
Mostly it is pictures or words directly from my FaceBook “friend”.
That does not eliminate viewing the anger and bitterness, but it minimizes seeing it … as Long as i avoid FB “news Feed”.

Don’t get me wrong; i also have many FB friends who are very supportive, truthful, loving, and kind.

i am just saying, do NOT approve a “friend” request just because i am mutual FB friend. Check them out.

We need to be careful about who we accept for our FaceBook “friends”.
i get close to 3 FaceBook “friend” requests per day.
I probably accept 2 FaceBook “friend” requests per WEEK.

No matter how many “mutual friends” there are, i send them a private message with the following:

“”Tru here.
Thanks for offer of FB “friend” status.
Are YOU a fellow person living with dementia symptoms … or where do i know you from ?””

i do NOT add as FB friend until they answer me, regardless of how many mutual friends we have.

When they answer with talk about my picture, or just wanting to “get to know” me ( which is most of them )
i delete most — and report them to FB as Scam.
Sometimes i can see that i do not want that person as “friend” from pictures on their personal page,
or if male and ALL their FB friends are female.
Most of the others, I suggest we can keep in contact at Dementia Symptom Perspectives’ FB page & send Link.
The few who tell me they are living with dementia, those i seriously consider.

!!! Gotta be careful ,
and dementia symptoms strongly impact how many folks we can keep track of, on and off FaceBook !!!

Part 1 >> https://truthfulkindness.com/2019/03/22/facebook-strategies-1/

.*.

My most crucial entries are here >> https://truthfulkindness.com/category/important/crucial/

Most recent are here >> https://truthfulkindness.com/

* Admin issues: SHARE dementia awareness thru buttons below. Feel free to leave your thoughts in the form of comments, but please filter your comments with truthful loving kindness to all concerned. If interested in receiving notice of future blog postings, subscriptions are available through a “follow” button in the upper left corner (MS Explorer) or lower right (Safari, Mozilla Firefox and Chrome). If there is an advertisement below, I have no control over what is shown. My own full legal name is Truthful Loving Kindness. My current diagnosis is still Mild Cognitive Impairment, but my neurologist said I am in a unique position for helping because I have “one foot in each door”. Text Copyright © Truthful L. Kindness 2019Mar18. Tags are: dementia, peer group, PLwD, social media, strategy, symptom, time.

FaceBook Strategies Part 1

Posted on March 22, 2019 by truthfulkindness

Tru here.

TIME spent with FaceBook

Last week’s FaceBook crash taught me a lesson.

No local gatherings for Persons Living with Dementia in our little town, and i seldom leave the house.
So my primary contact for other folks who live with dementia symptoms is on social media and social media groups
( like Dementia Mentors, Living Healthy with Early Onset Dementia, and DAI Support Page ).

Peer contact is extremely important, but …

My FaceBook time has recently increased another notch
and need to find more tools
or self-imposed restrictions on time spent.

Even tho i do not use FB ( FaceBook ) “news Feed”
( so current use is limited to responding from FB notifications )
time investment has increased from 6-8hrs/day
to 6-10hrs/day
( except for Saturday when notifications are “off” ).
By the time you allow extra time fudge-factor for dementia symptoms in every little thing for personal care,
plus 6-10hrs every week for blog,
that does not leave much of the week for personal/family life.

Reviewed my FB “Close Friends” list and moved 7ppl off from total of 495 “Close Friends” on FaceBook.
But dont want to remove family or those with dementia.
With about 10 exceptions that is everyone in my close friend listing
(and i average 2 new friends living with dementia per week)

Twitter is really difficult for me, so already placed limit of under 1hr/day for Twitter & Linked In.
Only a few friends use those services exclusively (do not use FaceBook), but i do not want to miss out on contact with those few.

Will now be limiting my time following FaceBook friends and FB texting “Groups”
to only 3hrs Tuesdays and Thursdays,
(usually takes 3hrs to clear my “inbox” from social media overnight)
Then normal full days on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
i realize that means i will miss a lot on Tues, Thurs, Sat and Sun,
and also not reliably see some of the entries that would be so very nice to share on Dementia Symptom Perspectives.
But i need stricter time limitations.

Any suggestions of other tools for managing FB ???

Part 2 >> https://truthfulkindness.com/2019/03/25/facebook-friends/

Change >> https://truthfulkindness.com/2018/10/08/change-facebook-pgs/

My most crucial entries are here >> https://truthfulkindness.com/category/important/crucial/

Most recent are here >> https://truthfulkindness.com/

.
* Admin issues: SHARE dementia awareness thru buttons below. Feel free to leave your thoughts in the form of comments, but please filter your comments with truthful loving kindness to all concerned. If interested in receiving notice of future blog postings, subscriptions are available through a “follow” button in the upper left corner (MS Explorer) or lower right (Safari, Mozilla Firefox and Chrome). If there is an advertisement below, I have no control over what is shown. My own full legal name is Truthful Loving Kindness. My current diagnosis is still Mild Cognitive Impairment, but my neurologist said I am in a unique position for helping because I have “one foot in each door”. Text Copyright © Truthful L. Kindness 2019Mar18. Hands on graphic were sourced from Geralt/Pixabay, & fanciful Logo inside sourced from “Cool Edits”/PicsArt. Both are free-to-edit. Tags are: dementia, peer group, PLwD, social media, strategy, symptom, time.

Top Dozen

Posted on March 18, 2019 by truthfulkindness

Tru here.

UPDATE:
To my surprise,
AFTER HealthLine contacted me in January with fact that i was included in 2019 Best Alz Blogs,
then AFTER announcing it publically on March 18,
ten days later they decided against including writers with Mild Cognitive Impairment,
and removed this blog from their listing, leaving only one first-person perspective.
Now i am deleting each of those announcements of my inclusion on HealthLine Best Alz Blogs for 2019.
i hope they soon decide to include at least one other first-person perspective in their “Best Alzheimers Blogs”.
>> https://www.healthline.com/health/alzheimers-disease/best-blogs-of-the-year

Want to thank readers of this blog. It is an honor that you would spend your time to read my words.

My actual Blog “anniversary” won’t be for several more months, but today HealthLine’s annual “Best Blogs” announcement was published >> https://www.healthline.com/health/alzheimers-disease/best-blogs-of-the-year.
In contrast to some of the other “Best” Lists, this is not a popularity contest;
each year, Healthline recognizes “candid and powerful blogs that capture a wide range of perspectives on Alzheimer’s disease.”

As it has been the past five years,
Listed among the top 12 Alzheimer Blogs for 2019 is my own blog; http://www.truthfulkindness.com.

This gives me an excuse to publish my own List of
my 12 blog entries that i consider most crucial:

First off, I have written specifically to medical professionals here >> https://truthfulkindness.com/2018/05/01/2-neurologists/

Next, Noticed during past 5yrs that my friends Living with dementia, and those on various “support” teams do not necessarily agree on which entries are most crucial.
The three blogs that my PLwD friends most talked about and shared (saying they wished their friends/family would read) are:

#1 : Time & Energy Consumption >> https://truthfulkindness.com/2015/07/20/time-energy-consumption-dementia-symptoms/

#2: Distorted Decision Making >> https://truthfulkindness.com/2014/09/09/distorted-decision-making-in-kitchen/

#3: Learned 2016 >> https://truthfulkindness.com/2016/12/31/2016-my-dementia-symptoms/

As author, i think my most crucial blog entries are on Communication & Relationships:

Importance of Communication of various types >> https://truthfulkindness.com/2016/01/26/import-communication-pwd/

Written communication:

My New Normal >> https://truthfulkindness.com/2014/07/26/my-new-normal/

Text Format >> https://truthfulkindness.com/2019/03/04/text-format-dementia/

Audio Communication:

ECT= Environment, Content, & Timing >> https://truthfulkindness.com/2014/12/12/suggestions-understand-audio-communication-dementia-symptoms/

No Meaning >> https://truthfulkindness.com/2016/09/06/no-meaning-for-words/

Floating Words >> https://truthfulkindness.com/2018/12/31/floating-words/

Non-Verbal Communication:

Anchor Me >> https://truthfulkindness.com/2014/11/07/hold-hand-anchor-me/

And effect at end-of-day >> https://truthfulkindness.com/2019/02/11/altered-afternoon-relationships/

Decided to make it a “Baker’s Dozen” and include one more Link for relationships:
Hole in Self-Control >> https://truthfulkindness.com/2015/01/26/hole-in-my-self-control/

Which blogs are YOUR favorites ???

HlthLine > https://www.healthline.com/health/alzheimers-disease has quote “candid and powerful blogs that capture a wide range of perspectives on Alzheimer’s disease.”

My most crucial entries are here >> https://truthfulkindness.com/category/important/crucial/

Most recent are here >> https://truthfulkindness.com/

.
* Admin issues: SHARE dementia awareness thru buttons below. Feel free to leave your thoughts in the form of comments, but please filter your comments with truthful loving kindness to all concerned. If interested in receiving notice of future blog postings, subscriptions are available through a “follow” button in the upper left corner (MS Explorer) or lower right (Safari, Mozilla Firefox and Chrome). If there is an advertisement below, I have no control over what is shown. My own full legal name is Truthful Loving Kindness. My current diagnosis is still Mild Cognitive Impairment, but my neurologist said I am in a unique position for helping because I have “one foot in each door”. Text Copyright © Truthful L. Kindness 2019Mar18. Starscape above was totally created by myself 29Sep2014. Tags are: alzheimers, award, blog, communication, dementia, HealthLine, PLwD, Truthful Loving Kindness.

UPDATE: ((Previously, i had a notice here at base of each entry with announcement and Logo for HealthLine 2019 Best Alz Blogs. To my surprise, after HealthLine contacted me in January with fact that i was included in 2019 Best Alz Blogs, then announcing it publically on March 18, ten days later they decided against including writers with Mild Cognitive Impairment, and removed this blog from their listing, leaving only one first-person perspective. Now i am deleting each of those announcements of my inclusion on HealthLine Best Alz Blogs for 2019. i hope they soon decide to include at least one other first-person perspective in their “Best Alzheimers Blogs”.)) >> https://www.healthline.com/health/alzheimers-disease/best-blogs-of-the-year

Recent Pages March 2019a

Posted on March 13, 2019 by truthfulkindness

Right-click on colored text and selecting “open in new tab”,
will allow you to return to this tab easily (at top of window) when you finish.
Remember, Links are on colored text, not the pictures.

Pages recently added to my blogsite are from:

Ron Coleman on TECHNOLOGY >> https://truthfulkindness.com/index-persons-with-dementia-pwd/ron-coleman/tech-strategy/

and a personal page in Family History:

Celtic Roots >> https://truthfulkindness.com/about/life-other/family-history-index/celtic-roots/

…

Index for other contributions here >> https://truthfulkindness.com/index-persons-with-dementia-pwd/

FamHist Index >> https://truthfulkindness.com/about/life-other/family-history-index/

.
* Admin issues: SHARE dementia awareness thru buttons below. Feel free to leave your thoughts in the form of comments, but please filter your comments with truthful loving kindness to all concerned. If interested in receiving notice of future blog postings, subscriptions are available through a “follow” button in the upper left corner (MS Explorer) or lower right (Safari, Mozilla Firefox and Chrome). If there is an advertisement below, I have no control over what is shown. My own full legal name is Truthful Loving Kindness. My current diagnosis is still Mild Cognitive Impairment, but my neurologist said I am in a unique position for helping because I have “one foot in each door”. Text Copyright © Truthful L. Kindness March 12, 2019. Tags are: dementia, PLwD, strategy, symptom.

Text Format – My Dementia Style

Posted on March 4, 2019 by truthfulkindness

Tru here.

Lately i have been able to mostly edit my own work.
If you have followed my blog, then you know this is a great challenge for me, because i often do not understand what i am writing, even during the writing process.

See >> https://truthfulkindness.com/2014/07/26/my-new-normal/

This is my strategy.

if in longer paragraphs, or with longer sentences, then i cannot understand what i write.

But if i read aloud,
cut into short paragraphs,
with most sentences beginning on a new line
(or even phrases)
then i can understand it better.

i regularly put multiple exclamation points, question marks, etc. They seem to reflect my feelings better, (and that’s the point, RIGHT ??)
i also leave a space between any words and those … whatever you call gramatical marks.
When gramatical marks are too close to words then i cannot easily identify the word.

i often capitalize “L” when it is at the beginning of a word.
Husband theorizes that my eye wants to see lower case L as an I, and i can guess word from context if i have enough of the beginning and ending letters.

All of these format changes can technically be seen as errors,
but i do them anyway because it makes it easier for ME to understand, when i read what i have written.
Do these format changes make understanding more difficult, or easier for my friends with dementia ??

It is just as important for ME to be able to understand what i write, as for others to read it,
because otherwise i do not know whether the words accurately reflect my thoughts.

(Thanks, Dallas Dixon, for your Jan21 question which was the trigger for beginning this blog entry)

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dallas-dixon-a0516488/

If you would like to better understand, check my earlier entry here >> https://truthfulkindness.com/2014/07/26/my-new-normal/

.
* Admin issues: SHARE dementia awareness thru buttons below. Feel free to leave your thoughts in the form of comments, but please filter your comments with truthful loving kindness to all concerned. If interested in receiving notice of future blog postings, subscriptions are available through a “follow” button in the upper left corner (MS Explorer) or lower right (Safari, Mozilla Firefox and Chrome). If there is an advertisement below, I have no control over what is shown. My own full legal name is Truthful Loving Kindness. My current diagnosis is still Mild Cognitive Impairment, but my neurologist said I am in a unique position for helping because I have “one foot in each door”. Text Copyright © Truthful L. Kindness 2019Mar04. Graphic was sourced from Free-Photos on Pixabay. Tags are: dementia, edit, grammar, PLwD, strategy, writing.

Symptom Intensification from Grief

Posted on February 25, 2019 by truthfulkindness

Tru here on Thursday.
Last night another dementia friend died. She and i had many commonalities in life’s circumstances, and i will miss her morning greetings on FaceBook … then our little comments throughout the day.

We all experience grief at friend’s death,
but i think we forget that EVERYTHING requires more focus when our brain is dealing with cognitive decline,
and grief (like pain) messes with our neurological signals.
All circuits are busy.

So, it feels like fewer brain communication signals are really getting to their destination.
… all circuits are busy,
so try again later.

“”When brain imaging studies are done on people who are grieving,
increased activity is seen along a broad network of neurons.
These link areas associated
not only with mood but also with
memory,
perception,
conceptualization,
and even the regulation of the heart,
the digestive system,
and other organs.””
(per https://www.prevention.com/health/memory/a20441690/how-your-brain-reacts-to-grief/ )

No surprise that brain-intensive activities are compromised with grief,
but i think important to note that
many other “automatic” activities can be compromised,
for those of us with cognitive decline:

Discover i am tripping much more again this morning.
Makes sense because walking takes much more concentration when brain is struggling with swiss-cheese holes
— then adding grief disrupts that needed concentration.

Chewing requires concentration, otherwise we bite tongue, cheek, etc.

This may be too much information, but remembering to wash hands takes concentration;
this is an increasing problem for me lately.

Frustration level very high.
Only been awake 4hrs (since 3:30am) but tolerance and patience levels aleady similar to late afternoon.
Will need to mostly avoid social networks today.

So …

Like illness, this symptom intensification is probably a preview of things to come, and an opportunity to “practice” techniques and strategies usually un-needed in my day-to-day Life during this stage.
Another opportunity to prepare for symptom progression in a gradual way.

Appropriate mobility tools (for me that means added use of walker or serviceDog for balance inside the house as well as outdoors).

Schedule extra sleep, if possible.

For me, it is not timing for trying something new. Only well-loved familiar movies, foods, etc.

Examples of recent communication glitches (this section was written with my husband’s help):

1. I am searching harder for words, as usual they are often easy common words instead of more complex technical terms. Make sure partner knows that communication is extra-compromised right now, and strategize TOGETHER.

2. Not as much a “partner” in our “joint” projects. So it may be that asking for my help in his projects, (right now) is not so beneficial or rewarding.

3. He says i am consistently unable to remember his responses for 20 minutes. Unfortunately, if i dont remember his schedule that doesnt mean he does not need to leave for work. He does not know the many MANY moments i think of asking him whether he needs to work today, but avoid asking because i know i already asked — i just cannot remember the answer. For ME, that means TODAY’S schedule needs posted on the fridge (in addition to the “normal” locations).

4. Most recently he says a few minutes ago I told him “I need a new card”, but could not specify what kind of “card”, among the many possibilities of “card”. Strategy options might be to hold up an example, pause the conversation, or try writing/drawing it out.

In relationship, recognize it is neither of YOU; the added current struggles are combination of stress and disease.

Death of friend, pet, etc, is a huge change in daily routine.
Circuits overload and nothing is the same.

When we are floundering like this,
maybe it is time to reach out — connect with friend, family member, Dementia Mentors or another chat group such as DAI or DAA Discussions.
We are all on this path together. There is a good chance you will bump shoulders with someone who has walked this portion of the path.

* Admin issues: SHARE dementia awareness thru buttons below. Feel free to leave your thoughts in the form of comments, but please filter your comments with truthful loving kindness to all concerned. If interested in receiving notice of future blog postings, subscriptions are available through a “follow” button in the upper left corner (MS Explorer) or lower right (Safari, Mozilla Firefox and Chrome). If there is an advertisement below, I have no control over what is shown. My own full legal name is Truthful Loving Kindness. My current diagnosis is still Mild Cognitive Impairment, but my neurologist said I am in a unique position for helping because I have “one foot in each door”. Text Copyright © Truthful L. Kindness 2019Feb25. Graphic was sourced from Old Stockholm Telphone Tower 1890, public domain 1889Dec31.. Tags are: dementia, grief, pain, PLwD, strategy, symptom.

Recent Pages Feb 2019

Posted on February 18, 2019 by truthfulkindness

Tru here. Pages recently added to my blogsite are :
Right-click on colored text and selecting “open in new tab”,
will allow you to return to this tab easily (at top of window) when you finish.
Remember, Links are on colored text, NOT the pictures.

Peter Berry on Eating, Drinking & Speed >> https://truthfulkindness.com/index-persons-with-dementia-pwd/peter-berry/vid83/

Admin entry About my BLOG >> https://truthfulkindness.com/about/about-blog-mailroom/

Personal Spiritual Journal entry >> https://truthfulkindness.com/about/life-other/spiritual/intimacy-nonverbal-prayer/

My most crucial entries are here >> https://truthfulkindness.com/category/important/crucial/

Most recent are here >> https://truthfulkindness.com/

Altered Afternoon Relationships

Posted on February 11, 2019 by truthfulkindness

Tru here on 2019Feb06.
This month marks my 20th year since dementia symptoms became noticable. Symptoms have definitely progressed, but progressed slowly.

Newest development is that
Lately find myself impatient, angry,
and just hostile by the time evening comes
… even with my morning nap.
Relationship interactions, (whether written or verbal),
become much more work by late afternoon.
It’s hard. it is just plain HARD !

i think as my energy is further depleted during the day, i just dont have the energy to keep everything in perspective (and thus avoid so much frustration and anger). Keeping perspective requires REMEMBERING the context of whatever circumstances and people are involved in the interactions — and the context is always retreating. ugggh !!!

Written words have been a problem for quite a few years now. Understanding spoken words into concepts has become strong challenge for me in past year. Moving deeper to the underlying meaning, taking into consideration the experiences/context of speaker (or writer) … and then keeping all of that context in mind DURING the interactions; it all requires copious amounts of energy. Interactions are very important to me; relationships are what make life worth living … but for me, interactions also always cost energy, because i am a strong introvert. Lately toward late afternoon and evening i just dont have that energy. it seems my ability to understand (and to reflect unconditional love for each being sharing this universe) is beginning to have an expiration “time-of-day” (instead of an “expiration date”).

It is now 3pm and AGAIN … my symptoms are swinging.

Is it because over 600 persons with Dementia in social networks is just too many individuals for my introversion-energized self ? (i have thought of this & have eliminated listings of most folks who do not actually have dementia themselves, but cannot bear to sacrifice any friendships among those who share dementia symptoms.) Is this from intensive “thinking” work on too many social projects during morning and early afternoon ? Maybe partly because less sunshine outside, so should check levels for vitamin D ? Maybe fighting a flu bug ?? All worth consideration, but regardless of why these are showing up NOW, probably indicates future “new normal”, so i need to be thinking about strategies, and preparing to best LIVE with the new symptoms.

Particularly disturbing because every time my name is spoken i am reminded of the importance of Truthful Loving Kindness in all my interactions. this is absolutely crucial to me!!

THANKSgiving for patience of others, when our own patience disapears.
THANKSgiving for understanding of others, when our own understanding disapears.

… But tomorrow will be a new day
… if i can get some rest will have new energy.
I will think about strategies tomorrow (and remainder of week).
Another blog entry on the installment plan. (Almost all of them are, these days, LOL. )

Strategies:

Continue efforts at nap early enough to not interfere with night sleep.

Ask doctor to check vitamin D levels, and make every effort to get sunshine.

Maybe some of those bulbs that are “full spectrum”.

Limiting online connections (social networking like FaceBook) to mostly mornings and early afternoon, then do activities that are less relationship-intensive.

Praying husband finishes installation of woodstove soon; nothing says i have arrived “home” like the smell, sound, and sight of a wood fire.

.
* Admin issues: SHARE dementia awareness thru buttons below. Feel free to leave your thoughts in the form of comments, but please filter your comments with truthful loving kindness to all concerned. If interested in receiving notice of future blog postings, subscriptions are available through a “follow” button in the upper left corner (MS Explorer) or lower right (Safari, Mozilla Firefox and Chrome). If there is an advertisement below, I have no control over what is shown. My own full legal name is Truthful Loving Kindness. My current diagnosis is still Mild Cognitive Impairment, but my neurologist said I am in a unique position for helping because I have “one foot in each door”. Text Copyright © Truthful L. Kindness 2019Feb11. No idea on how many hrs invested on txt, but worked on it and/or graphic every day for 6 days. Graphic was sourced from Casey Horner on Unsplash. Tags are: dementia, fatigue, irritability, PLwD, strategy, sundowning, symptom.

Person with Dementia Symptoms

Please pass on Dementia Awareness by Sharing:

Like this:

Please pass on Dementia Awareness by Sharing:

Like this:

Please pass on Dementia Awareness by Sharing:

Like this:

Please pass on Dementia Awareness by Sharing:

Like this:

Please pass on Dementia Awareness by Sharing:

Like this:

Please pass on Dementia Awareness by Sharing:

Like this:

Please pass on Dementia Awareness by Sharing:

Like this:

Please pass on Dementia Awareness by Sharing:

Like this:

Please pass on Dementia Awareness by Sharing:

Like this:

Please pass on Dementia Awareness by Sharing:

Like this: