'New' and 'Nice' Memories

Tender Face

Account Closed
Mar 14, 2006
5,379
0
NW England
I can't say that I'm anxious, concerned, sad, happy or even surprised ... yet thought this was worth sharing....

Mum has suddenly told us about a significant 'episode' in her young life which she never has before ... I've heard all the angst about being evacuated, about her dad leaving, growing up in the Depression, etc etc etc ... this is around being 'sent from home' for convalesence ... but they seem to be 'nice' memories .... of being by the coast, of meeting new friends in similar circumstances.... the likes of which she hasn't shared before.... of returning home to a wonderful welcome for her own mother....

My mother has been a very bitter person about her own past - I keep trying to see the 'pattern' which many describe here about dementia 'magnifying' traits - my mother is just not fitting that pattern..... she seems to be mellowing????!!!
(Not that I'm complaining!)

I am puzzled too that when I 'hear' so many people here anxious about depression (for themselves and their loved ones), my mum - who I would have always described as 'anxious and depressed' is becoming less so.... she seems to have completely forgotten my dad ... but is 'obsesssed' about current/recent events amongst neighbours... this doesn't seem to fit with much of the 'short-term' / 'long-term' memory stuff....

Maybe there is a God, or whoever, whatever,who tells dementia to strike out the bad bits first????

Oh, well, I should just be glad she seems happy (or at least settled).... just finding it all a bit odd........

Just thoughts, love, Karen (TF), x
 

Margarita

Registered User
Feb 17, 2006
10,824
0
london
My mother has been a very bitter person about her own past

Just like my mum




My mum was in a stage like that sharing those memories .


I read that when a dramatic, tragic, thing happen in our life we are most likely remember it more in the future maybe in the pass your mum just keep it all in. now she sharing it with you like my mum did we me . also now my mum not forgotten I would say that my dad dead , more so rather not talk about it ,because it still makes her sad so she talks about finding a new boyfriend and does seem more mellow now then ever before
 

Helena

Registered User
May 24, 2006
715
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My cousin was a GP and her husband was a surgeon

they showed me 2 photos

My aunt who was always a very sweet lady that i remember who became even sweeter in her "senile dementia years " and happily went into a care home

My cousins MIL however was bitter and twisted and in her "senile dementia " years had to be dragged screaming and hanging on to door handles into a care home

The pictures are christened Good and Evil

and boy were they right
 

Lila13

Registered User
Feb 24, 2006
1,342
0
Treasure the good moments!

(None of the care homes I visited was willing to accept anyone who was going to be dragged in screaming. They wanted consent, or possibly people who weren't sufficiently conscious to complain.)

Lila
 

dmc

Registered User
Mar 13, 2006
1,157
0
hi TF

thanks for sharing your story, its nice to hear the "good times" as well as the "bad" times
enjoy your mum, perhaps she's just forgotten about being bitter and your now seeing your real mum, :rolleyes:
take care xx
 

Margarita

Registered User
Feb 17, 2006
10,824
0
london
Oh helena
you do make me laugh

The pictures are christened Good and Evil

What has Good and Evil got to do with someone dementia " years had to be dragged screaming and hanging on to door handles into a care home

Good for her I would say lol why do you see the person as Evil she just did not want to go .

So the other lady was a good Christen and went along happply and did not make every one life a liveing nightmare ...........
had to be dragged screaming and hanging on to door handles into a care home
what a way to go good for her lol sorry my humour
 
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dmc

Registered User
Mar 13, 2006
1,157
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my mum also grabs hold of doors and handles when we take her back to the ward after a walk but i wouldnt call her evil, in fact i dont blame her i wouldnt want to end up there either!! :eek:
 

DickG

Registered User
Feb 26, 2006
558
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88
Stow-on-the-Wold
Sorry folks but I interpret Helena's posting as good and evil being the two sides to dementia and in no way related to the individuals. How can anyone be labelled good or evil when they no longer have the benefit of rational thought and control over their feelings?

Dick
 

Margarita

Registered User
Feb 17, 2006
10,824
0
london
Now Dick


How can anyone be labelled good or evil when they no longer have the benefit of rational thought and control over their feelings?


That is a good way to look at it and totally right

I would view when my mum has a bad day as a negative day when she has a good day I would say it’s a positive day
 

Brucie

Registered User
Jan 31, 2004
12,413
0
near London
I refrained from posting in reply and am grateful to DickG and Margarita for putting my thoughts into words.

I know it is difficult to do and one has to be willing in the first place, but it is instructional to try and see life from the side of the person who has dementia.

When we do, taking into account how their senses of comprehension, hearing, speech, mobility etc have been impaired, the behaviours are pretty rational.... in those circumstances.

Of course, some people are genuinely nicer than the norm in their lifetimes, and others are not very nice, even to children, etc. and in such circumstances it must be very difficult not to read that into their dementia personae. Indeed the dementia may act as a sort of magnifying glass.

Where people have been generally decent in their lives, and become really difficult when they have dementia, that is a measure of how hard their fight is with their condition and with their lives.

... in my opinion, of course...
 

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