And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.
Friedrich Nietzsche.
Many times I have found myself consumed with anger and bitterness at, what I saw as, an uncaring society, almost totally unaware of the existence of and reality of dementia. However, on reflection, I have had to accept that, until I was personally affected, I was part of that society, as unaware and uncaring as the rest.
I have come to believe that only those with ‘hands on’ experience can have any real insight into what dementia is and does, and what it means for both carer and cared for. This is as true for those in the medical profession as for anybody else. Dementia turns ‘normal’ on its head in ways that cannot be imagined until you are faced with it.
Like many of us, I spend much of my time dealing with or having to think about dementia and it colours my entire life and is literally taking me over. I find that I can only relate well to people who are in the same boat as myself, because they are the only ones who can understand what caring for a relative with dementia involves. I read the posts on TP. every day and have a fellow feeling with so many posters. I become impatient (intolerant even) of those who do not share this experience, and I find it difficult to interact normally with them. I am becoming isolated, living in a 'dementia bubble', and realise that eventually this may result in there being two victims of the disease rather than one.
For elderly people, like myself, looking after a partner, this is not of great consequence, but for younger people looking after a parent, I think it’s quite a different matter. You don’t have to look far on TP. to see how real this problem is.
However, it is one thing, to see the danger and quite another to know what to do about it, or, knowing, being able to do it.
Friedrich Nietzsche.
Many times I have found myself consumed with anger and bitterness at, what I saw as, an uncaring society, almost totally unaware of the existence of and reality of dementia. However, on reflection, I have had to accept that, until I was personally affected, I was part of that society, as unaware and uncaring as the rest.
I have come to believe that only those with ‘hands on’ experience can have any real insight into what dementia is and does, and what it means for both carer and cared for. This is as true for those in the medical profession as for anybody else. Dementia turns ‘normal’ on its head in ways that cannot be imagined until you are faced with it.
Like many of us, I spend much of my time dealing with or having to think about dementia and it colours my entire life and is literally taking me over. I find that I can only relate well to people who are in the same boat as myself, because they are the only ones who can understand what caring for a relative with dementia involves. I read the posts on TP. every day and have a fellow feeling with so many posters. I become impatient (intolerant even) of those who do not share this experience, and I find it difficult to interact normally with them. I am becoming isolated, living in a 'dementia bubble', and realise that eventually this may result in there being two victims of the disease rather than one.
For elderly people, like myself, looking after a partner, this is not of great consequence, but for younger people looking after a parent, I think it’s quite a different matter. You don’t have to look far on TP. to see how real this problem is.
However, it is one thing, to see the danger and quite another to know what to do about it, or, knowing, being able to do it.