Hi everyone - sorry but I seem to be asking for alot of your help lately - hope you don't mind.
As you probably know my Dad was diagnosed with early stage Alzheimers the other week and I am trying to get to grips with it.
I have also been working like a maniac and visiting Mum and Dad every month (they live 300+ miles away) which has resulted in me being signed off work (I was doing 30hours plus work in two days sometimes!). I suppose they call it "burn out" and it is quite common in my line of work. Doctor wants me to take time to relax and get my sleep pattern back - which it seems to now be doing - phew.
Anyway I went to a councilling session yesterday to talk about work-life balance (so when I go back to work I can learn to manage expectations better) and also how to deal with my Dad's diagnosis.
I mentioned TP is part of my support network and that I had arranged for Alz Org rep near my parents to visit my Mum to get support going for Mum. The counciller asked me what I was doing up here in Scotland - and that I too should try and see an Alzheimers Support group here.
Now I think this is a good idea but (and here's where I need your help) I'm a bit scared to go to one. I've never dealt with this sort of thing before (my Gran had AD but I was 4 when she died to so don't really remember). Is getting in touch with a local group a good idea? Do I need to meet similar people or will it be too upsetting for me. And here is the really awful thing - I'm scared I might meet someone in later stage Alzheimers and what if I can't cope with it! What an awful thing for me to say when all of you are caring and coping so well. Part of me doesn't want to see what can happen to Dad yet I can understand why the counciller wants me to get support - or can I? Dad doesn't live up here he's in Yorkshire - should I go to a Scotland support group. I feel such a wimp at the moment not sure what to do. I have the phone number but haven't dared to call it yet.
Any advice would really, really be appreciated. I hate this disease already and can't believe that Dad has it - do I really want to know the worst? Help please.
Thanks.
Alison
x
As you probably know my Dad was diagnosed with early stage Alzheimers the other week and I am trying to get to grips with it.
I have also been working like a maniac and visiting Mum and Dad every month (they live 300+ miles away) which has resulted in me being signed off work (I was doing 30hours plus work in two days sometimes!). I suppose they call it "burn out" and it is quite common in my line of work. Doctor wants me to take time to relax and get my sleep pattern back - which it seems to now be doing - phew.
Anyway I went to a councilling session yesterday to talk about work-life balance (so when I go back to work I can learn to manage expectations better) and also how to deal with my Dad's diagnosis.
I mentioned TP is part of my support network and that I had arranged for Alz Org rep near my parents to visit my Mum to get support going for Mum. The counciller asked me what I was doing up here in Scotland - and that I too should try and see an Alzheimers Support group here.
Now I think this is a good idea but (and here's where I need your help) I'm a bit scared to go to one. I've never dealt with this sort of thing before (my Gran had AD but I was 4 when she died to so don't really remember). Is getting in touch with a local group a good idea? Do I need to meet similar people or will it be too upsetting for me. And here is the really awful thing - I'm scared I might meet someone in later stage Alzheimers and what if I can't cope with it! What an awful thing for me to say when all of you are caring and coping so well. Part of me doesn't want to see what can happen to Dad yet I can understand why the counciller wants me to get support - or can I? Dad doesn't live up here he's in Yorkshire - should I go to a Scotland support group. I feel such a wimp at the moment not sure what to do. I have the phone number but haven't dared to call it yet.
Any advice would really, really be appreciated. I hate this disease already and can't believe that Dad has it - do I really want to know the worst? Help please.
Thanks.
Alison
x