Summer 2006
From the Director
A Mix of Emotions
By Susan Eig
Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the emotions you are experiencing as a caregiver? You're not alone. Most Alzheimer caregivers acknowledge conflicting feelings of exhaustion, loneliness, isolation, embarrassment, sadness and grief, fear and even anger. These feelings can be confusing and challenging as we watch Alzheimer's disease (AD) maintain its relentless march against the physical and emotional well being of our loved ones.
Our reactions may come one at a time, but it is not at all unusual for the AD caregiver to experience several feelings at once. Perhaps this is a result of the ever-changing face of Alzheimer's. Just as we adapt to one symptom of the disease, we are generally hit by another. There is rarely time to settle in.
I remember my own struggles during the course of my father's sixteen year battle with Alzheimer's disease. Just when I thought I had figured out how to handle one problem, I was confronted by another. I was frequently exhausted, regularly agitated, often challenged by my anger at the disease and the changes in my father, and fearful for myself, my young children and my siblings. I longed for support, understanding, assistance and time for myself!
Two things I learned during those years were that having knowledge about Alzheimer's disease was enormously powerful and that I really wasn't alone. I sought out other caregivers and developed a strong, dependable and compassionate support system for myself. I searched for and found a professional counselor who had experience with dementia and AD. I learned that sharing experiences with others, talking to a professional and remembering my sense of humor were life savers. And, I learned the importance of taking care of myself.
In future issues of The Link, we will discuss specific challenges confronting caregivers. Among those challenges, we will examine the complications of grief associated with Alzheimer's disease and explore the often misunderstood anger felt by many. We will also identify helpful coping strategies for dealing with these feelings. We welcome your questions and comments.
Also in this issue:
Medical Commentary: Early Medical Evaluation
