A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s can completely turn your world around and stop life as you have known it so far. It is normal to experience a plethora of emotions ranging from despair to apathetic resignation. The first step in coping with the difficult challenges that lie ahead for an Alzheimer’s patient is acknowledging the emotions that often accompany the diagnosis.
Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia that accounts for about 50 to 80% of all diagnosed cases. There are an estimated 44.4 million people with dementia all over the world. The distinct pathologies of Alzheimer’s involves progressive accumulation of plaques outside neurons (tiny cells within the brain that helps transmit signals from and to the body) and protein tangles inside the neurons. This invariably leads to the damage and destruction of neurons, resulting in typical symptoms such as memory loss and deterioration of other abilities.
Dealing with the roller-coaster of emotions
‘Alzheimer’s is a difficult diagnosis. ‘The patient will cycle through a wide range of emotions as he/she tries to process this information,’ says Dr. Robert Mathew, President of Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders Society of India (ARDSI), Trivandrum Chapter.
After you receive the grim diagnosis, you may feel numb, and unsure of the next steps to take and patients, usually, feel the following emotions.
- Denial that you have this disease.
- Depression about how your life will change, feeling overwhelmed and powerless to stop the changes that you know are to come.
- Fear about how you and your family will be affected by the disease.
- Relief that you’re finally able to identify what has been going on so far.
- Resentment that you have to suffer this, and not someone else.
- Isolation, or a feeling that no one else understands what you’re going through.
Here are some ways you can deal with these emotions
Take care of your emotions
The worst thing that you can do is to ignore your emotions and carry on as normal. Come to terms with reality and start to take care of yourselves so you can move forward and figure out how to live a positive life. It can be difficult to figure out exactly how to deal with confusing emotions, but make a commitment to be there for yourself and not let the disease rob you of your life.
‘Friends and family can be of significant help during this time,’ says Dr. Mathew. ‘Reach out to them.’
Apart from reaching out to loved ones, you can also use a combination of the following approaches.
- Maintaining a journal where you write about your feelings.
- Share your thoughts honestly and openly with others.
- Find an early stage support group and actively engage with them.
- Turn to a spiritual leader or counselor.
- Continue to stay engaged and doing things that you love.
- Take the time to mourn, grieve, and then move on.
Support groups
Alzheimer’s can make you feel abandoned and isolated; you may feel like no one else understands what you’re going through. Don’t wait for someone else to come forward and help you. You may have to reach out to others, and ask for help.
Early stage support groups are great to help a newly diagnosed patient deal with the intensity of their emotions. A good support network will give you practical advice and motivate you to carry on. You will feel connected to others who are going through the same thing as you, and you will also find a sense of community and purpose. Actively connect with others and help them as you help yourself.
Don’t shy away from questions
You may not be able to ask your doctor everything that you need to know about the disease the moment you receive the diagnosis. It is normal to leave the hospital shaken and unsure of what you need to know about the disease. Take all the time you need to absorb the information, and then sit and list down the questions that you might have and want to ask your doctor.
To help you out, here are some questions that you may want to ask your doctor:
- How did you arrive at the diagnosis and what tests did you use?
- What can I expect in the future regarding the progression of the disease?
- What are the treatment options available?
- Are there any clinical trials, advanced treatments, or alternative treatment options?
- Who will manage my care at the hospital?
- What facilities can I expect at the hospital?
- Who will help my family cope with this diagnosis?
Alzheimer’s is a difficult diagnosis, but it need not stop you from living your life. We hope that the above tips will help you deal with the diagnosis.
Photo source: Getty images
You may also like to read:
- World Alzheimer’s Day 2014: Challenges Alzheimer’s patients face in India
- World Alzheimer’s day 2014: Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease
- Natural remedies for Alzheimer’s disease
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