“Apathy” is also known as feeling “flat” ; it is LACK of feeling, emotion, interest, and concern.  Apathy is an especially common symptom at earlier stages with vascular and fronto-temporal types of dementia.

This entry is written by Michelle Montgomery, for publishing at her FaceBook page which is listed below, so PLEASE address any questions or comments to that website, regardless of which website shows these words. My friend Michelle Montgomery wrote about feelings of apathy on 22Dec2022, copied below with her 22Dec2022 permission.  this gives insight in dementia symptoms.  

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Hi family and friends..

Coming up to Christmas Day I realise how much I am not enjoying feeling almost nothing..

It’s the 1st Christmas ever that I’ve had no reaction too, I’m just going through the motions..

I can’t help but think this is the ‘calm before the storm’ kinda like this is the preliminary round before I ‘forget’ special times..

Everything is slowly fading from my ‘memory of feelings’ feelings must come from some kind of memory, because I’m not ‘feeling’ Christmas and I can barely remember how I felt for Christmas’ past..

The ‘picture’ memories are there, I can remember decorating the house every year, the preparing and cooking, wrapping presents, waiting for our girls to go to bed, playing the last Christmas song on Christmas Eve which was ‘Little Toy Trains’ and all the other lovely personalised memories..

But, feelings are gone which makes the memories one dimensional, like looking at a flat pack before it’s put together..

It’s a very strange thing to ‘walk’ through something you’ve done for 44 year’s, yet this time there’s no ‘music’ it’s like watching a silent movie I guess..

I need to say I’m happy, I’m not feeling down or sad which is really good, I couldn’t imagine how my emotional health would be if I was sad about this, so I’m grateful that I can still enjoy the grandchildren as I watch them prepare for Christmas, along with their parents..

I’m also grateful to still know what happiness is, and to recognise the children having fun and join in as much as I’m capable..

So life is good whilst I can remember ‘how to be’ even though the feelings aren’t there ..

Merry Christmas Everyone! Have fun, laugh and enjoy who ever is sitting at your table this year and, don’t worry about the mess!

Love..Me  — Michelle Montgomery on 22Dec2022 at https://www.facebook.com/groups/841185086630043/posts/1365250364223510/ .  Shared with permission and final approval on 25Dec2022. 

Index for Michelle’s pages at this BlogSpace is here >> https://truthfulkindness.com/index-persons-with-dementia-pwd/michelle-montgomery/ .

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Links:

“Lack of Pleasure” (Lack of Pleasure sensation has some common factors with Apathy) by Truthful Kindness at https://truthfulkindness.com/2022/02/07/anhedonia-dementia/ ; 

“Apathy and Empathy” by Cindy Odell at https://ftdnoflowers.blogspot.com/2018/02/apathy-and-loss-of-empathy-strike-again.html ;

non-PLwD: “Understanding Apathy and Depression” is Especially good 4-minute video from teacher Teepa Snow at https://youtu.be/wHiWaQ_VdZc ; (should be able to watch the vid below) 

 

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* Admin issues:

SHARE dementia awareness thru buttons below. Subscribe “FOLLOW” button is at the very bottom of the page, with “Category” Links, “Recent Posts” and “Archive”.  If you put your eMail address there you should get an eMail each time i write a blog entry.  Feel free to leave your thoughts in the form of comments, but please filter your comments with truthful loving kindness to all concerned. … *** …  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 i have cerebrovascular disease and Lewy Body Dementia symptoms very slowly advancing.  Current theory for triggering cause of dementia symptoms is now over 30 years untreated Lyme and Babesia — plus probable nocturnal seizures.  … ******* …   Text Copyright © Michelle Montgomery on 22Dec2022. Featured image “No Feelings” was created by Truthful Kindness on 23Dec2022.  … ******* …  i dont mind re-posting of things i write, but if you re-post then i expect you to make it clear this is NOT written by you. My authorship as Truthful Kindness (my legal name) must be clearly identified, and provide very prominent Link to my website so that questions and comments can be addressed to ME personally at http://www.truthfulkindness.com . .
Tags: apathy, dementia, emotion, flat, holiday, Michelle Montgomery, mood, person with dementia, PLwD, strategy, symptoms, vascular .  S&S categ: apathy, holiday, mood .

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