| |
| |
|
Alternative Information |
|
|
|
As The Primary Caregiver, Should I Journal My Feelings About Alzheimer's Disease?
Being a caregiver is stressful and difficult. It involves contradictory feelings, thoughts and frustrations. When you have to care for a loved one who has Alzheimer's, you have to be patient, talk with a calm voice and never "talk down" to your loved one. Journaling your thoughts and feelings will definitely help you cope with the situation. Write in your journal all that comes through your mind and your heart; nobody but you will read it. It is between you and your journal. Let your pen guide you through the pages. You may want to do some extra research on Alzheimer's disease to better understand the process and stages your loved one will pass through. If you are a little bit knowledgeable about the disease, the process of caring will be easier on both you and your loved one. You can keep daily notes on your loved one, such as bathing or eating changes, whether she becomes agitated, and so on. It can also help you remember things to discuss with the doctor. The good thing about a journal is that it is handy and you can write whenever you feel like it, day or night. It will never contradict you. On the contrary, it will aid you in dealing with your internal emotions; it will relieve your mind and your soul. If you are uncomfortable about writing, then it may be easier for you to express your feelings by recording them on a tape recorder. If you like, you can recall some family gathering you all had together, a camping trip or fishing trip where your loved one caught a BIGGGGG fish! You can read this part to him and it might trigger some memory in your loved one?a memory that was lost to Alzheimer's. Journaling will also help you release the burden of care giving you may have. Releasing the burden through the pen will definitely ease the pain. But journaling should not be the only way out for these strong feelings you have. You may want to enroll in a support group. You can check through the Alzheimer's Association if there is such a group in you area. Speaking to other people will help in getting all these negative emotions out. And most of the participants are dealing with exactly the same emotions because they have to care for a loved one who has dementia. Sometimes, speaking out loud and getting out these feelings will do you a lot of good and you will feel much better after. You may even make friends through these groups, friends that will be able to support you as time goes on. Remember, you are not alone. You have friends and family to talk to. Maybe you can ask a family member to help with your loved one. It will ease the burden and give you more time to yourself, to journal and to recharge your batteries. About The Author William G. Hammond, JD is a nationally known elder law attorney and founder of The Alzheimer's Resource Center. He is a frequent guest on radio and television and has developed innovative solutions to guide families who have a loved one suffering from Alzheimer's. For more information you can visit his website at www.BeatAlzheimers.com.
MORE RESOURCES:
Alternative - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Check Your Colon Transient Time Many doctors and others in the health field may tell you that it is ok not to have a bowel movement everyday. This really goes against common sense. Discover 5 Scents That Will Turbo Charge Your Energy, Mood, Brain Power, and More Control AppetiteIn studies of 105 subjects, it was found that people who inhaled a chocolate-like aroma when they felt hungry lost almost 3 pounds in 2 weeks. A research study of 3,193 people found that a whiff of banana, green apples or peppermint scents find out an average weight loss of 30 pounds in 6 months. The Aromatherapy Home Medicine Chest - Part I: The Essential Oils Here we will have a brief look at ten essential oils considered by some to comprise the 'basic home care kit'. While by no means exhaustive, this list will go a long way to providing effective (and often pleasant!) treatments for you and your family for things like cuts and scrapes, sunburn, digestive troubles, stress related conditions and more. Revolutionary Medicine: Shockwave Therapy for Chronic Pain Sufferers Stripped from the scenes from science fiction novels and films, shockwave therapy is a newage alternative to chronic pain sufferers. Utilized not only on humans for over 25 years for urologic and orthopedic conditions, shockwave therapy has even been introduced to veterinary and equine medicine as well. Aromatherapys Mind-Smell Connection Why is smell so strongly linked to memory and emotion?It is not fully understood, but this is no surprise as the complexities of brain activity are still far from being unravelled and understood. The brain holds far more secrets than we have discovered. Oops! One Size DOESNT Fit All The Stop Smoking Hypnosis people.The ancient Greeks certainly had their share of eccentrics. Hoshin Roshi Ryu Hoshin Roshi Ryu is a scientific system for achieving an awakening of the Kundalini. Developed in the early 1980's by Dr. Pendulum Dowsing: Easy To Learn Techniques Pendulum Dowsing is a very fun and simple way to begin to measure energy fields. Since we all live in a world that is comprised of energy, and since we all have energy in and around our physical bodies, the ability to recognize and measure energy can be valuable and useful. Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Symptoms Urinary tract infection is caused by bacteria in one of the tracts through which urine passes. The infection can occur in the urethra, ureters, or the urinary bladder. A Major Key to Pain Relief: Using Your Subconscious to Alter Your Brain Chemistry Chemical reactions move pain signals along a pathway from your body to your brain. By using visualization statements to focus your subconscious on potential weak points along that pathway, you may be able to reduce the signal enough to get relief. Constipation Remedy Using Citrus Juice Citrus JuicesCitrus juices are a constipation remedy that is an excellent way to stimulate your colon and other parts of the body. Since your colon is less active at night, drinking juices as soon as you awaken and get up can stimulate strong peristaltic action and promote a bowel movement. Herbal Medicine Herbal Medicine, also referred to as Herbalism or Botanical Medicine, is the oldest healthcare known to mankind. Herbal medicine is the utilization of herbs for therapy or medicinal purposes. How to Use Natural Remedies for Ulcers Caused by Helicobacter Pylori One of the bacteria that live in your mouth and cause gingivitis is the helicobacter pylori or H. pylori. The Health Care Crisis - and a Solution We are presently facing a health care crisis that is getting more dire every day. Health care costs are increasing so rapidly that many companies who offered free health insurance to their employees are now passing a lot of the high cost on to their employees. Anal Warts Treatment (Finally, a Medicine for Anal Warts Which Removes Them Completely!) Anal warts treatmentAnal warts, otherwise known as genital warts or venereal warts, are just one of about 80- different strains of the Human Papilloma virus (HPV). Anal warts are extremely common these days. Keeping Well When Monsoon Dwells First showers of monsoon are heartily welcomed by everyone after experiencing the scorching heat of summer. But monsoons reduce the immunity of our body and make us susceptible to many diseases which are commonly associated with this season. Herbal Medicine Herbal Medicine is the oldest form of health care known to mankind. Herbs have been used in all cultures and form an integral part of modern civilisation. Alternative Medicine and Therapies - What, Why and How of it Alternative Therapies and alternative medicine has been gaining ground along with conventional treatments. Alternative therapies have been practiced for thousand of years especially in the east commonly known as Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Chypre EcologyChypre belongs to the evergreen plant family with needle-like leaves. It has about 20 different varieties, all growing to heights of 25 to 45 metres. Improve Your Eating Habits To Save Money On Prescriptions! Do you like the arthritis pain relief you get from over-the-counter anti-inflammatory pills (like ibuprofen)? But do they "bother your stomach"? Take an honest assessment of your eating habits. Think about your diet before you declare the cheaper NSAIDs off-limits and switch to the more expensive coxibs like Celebrex® or Bextra®.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2008 |
