I've never really shared this story before. I mean, I've told friends and a few family members that he freaked out pretty bad, but never went into specifics. Not sure why I worry about telling them, it was years ago now and he only had one incident comparable to it. I don't think I have any trauma over it, but I've felt the need to finally share it here...
In retrospect, there were warning signs. His short term memory was already starting to falter. Anything past a month, maybe 2 he would find difficult to remember. Me and my mom, who typically tried to keep to ourselves anyway, thought nothing of it really.
At the time, he was unemployed and was trying to get disability due to his back, but had recently been denied. I will admit I do not know the specifics of why he was denied, but we were all fairly surprised. He had been diagnosed with spinal stenosis and my mom told me the social worker who was assisting them said it was pretty much a no brainer he'd get it. He played it off, but in retrospect this probably stressed him greatly. He would go off at any mention of money. This we wrote off as normal behavior, which it kinda was, but the 2 happening side by side is hard to not think about in retrospect.
Anyway, when my mom came to pick me up from school one day she looked worried. She went through the usial motions, asking me how school was and what not, but I felt something was off. She rather randomly asked if I wanted to go to GameStop, said she had enough I could buy a used game. I thought it was odd, but now I know she wanted an excuse to stay out longer, and perhaps to try and get me in a good mood.
We got home. I grabbed my bookbag and my new game and got ready to go in, but before I got out of the van she sgrabbed me by the shoulder and said "Listen, your dad is acting strange today." and trailed off as if she was trying to find the words. I laughed, said he couldn't be acting any worse then usual. She just nodded, but told me she wanted to open the house door. That worried me a tad, I thought maybe he had got drunk early and was already being violent. I'm REALLY not sure if I would have preferred that or not.
When we walked in my dad ran into the kitchen with a sword we kept on display at the house. He waited a moment and said thank God it's just you. Then he got irritated and yelled for my mom to shut the door. After she did, he asked how we could be so calm after being outside with the "men" and how we got in "past the gunfire." Obviously, we were not prepared for this. I just quickly went to my room. Overheard my mom tell dad there was no gunfire. He was baffled, but told mom to go into their room and get down and for me to stay down in mind. i did, but I eventually got up to go into their room.
I feel terrible for never thinking about this before, but bless my poor mom. She possibly had to deal with him doing this the whole time I was at school
I thought maybe he was faking a mental impairment. I asked him if he was, and my mom must of thought the same thing because she quickly added we would go along with the act. Dad ignored us, kept rambling about the men and names he never mentioned before or since (Can't recall them now) before yelling at me to get back down in my room. I did.
A few hours later my dad, who opted to stay down, allowed me and my mom to walk freely around the house. A friend called me, but once my dad heard the phone ringing he ordered me not to answer, saying it was one of them and that it was a trick. I obliged, but at this point I was terrified, annoyed, and kinda angry to be quite honest.
I went and told mom I was calling 911. She begged me not to, I think she was worried it'd make things worse, but I convinced her we REALLY needed to and she finally agreed.
Operator told us help would be there ASAP ahd advised us to find a way to get out of the house. We snuck out the back. Eventually help arrived and talked down my dad and convinced him to go with them. He was diagnosed with a UTI as well as dementia. He was also sapped of his strength after he calmed down. Had to stay in a home for a few months before he came home. Me and especially my mom were wrecks, but when my mom was helping him she did a wonderful job... Well, except when she gave him back POA. I do not like speaking badly about her, but that was beyond dumb... I still wish she was here though...
One positive, my dad got disability mot long after.
That was 8 years ago now, but almost feels like it was yesterday.
Wondering if anyone has dealt with similar behavior and also if anyone has a diagnosis story they'd also like to share...
In retrospect, there were warning signs. His short term memory was already starting to falter. Anything past a month, maybe 2 he would find difficult to remember. Me and my mom, who typically tried to keep to ourselves anyway, thought nothing of it really.
At the time, he was unemployed and was trying to get disability due to his back, but had recently been denied. I will admit I do not know the specifics of why he was denied, but we were all fairly surprised. He had been diagnosed with spinal stenosis and my mom told me the social worker who was assisting them said it was pretty much a no brainer he'd get it. He played it off, but in retrospect this probably stressed him greatly. He would go off at any mention of money. This we wrote off as normal behavior, which it kinda was, but the 2 happening side by side is hard to not think about in retrospect.
Anyway, when my mom came to pick me up from school one day she looked worried. She went through the usial motions, asking me how school was and what not, but I felt something was off. She rather randomly asked if I wanted to go to GameStop, said she had enough I could buy a used game. I thought it was odd, but now I know she wanted an excuse to stay out longer, and perhaps to try and get me in a good mood.
We got home. I grabbed my bookbag and my new game and got ready to go in, but before I got out of the van she sgrabbed me by the shoulder and said "Listen, your dad is acting strange today." and trailed off as if she was trying to find the words. I laughed, said he couldn't be acting any worse then usual. She just nodded, but told me she wanted to open the house door. That worried me a tad, I thought maybe he had got drunk early and was already being violent. I'm REALLY not sure if I would have preferred that or not.
When we walked in my dad ran into the kitchen with a sword we kept on display at the house. He waited a moment and said thank God it's just you. Then he got irritated and yelled for my mom to shut the door. After she did, he asked how we could be so calm after being outside with the "men" and how we got in "past the gunfire." Obviously, we were not prepared for this. I just quickly went to my room. Overheard my mom tell dad there was no gunfire. He was baffled, but told mom to go into their room and get down and for me to stay down in mind. i did, but I eventually got up to go into their room.
I feel terrible for never thinking about this before, but bless my poor mom. She possibly had to deal with him doing this the whole time I was at school
I thought maybe he was faking a mental impairment. I asked him if he was, and my mom must of thought the same thing because she quickly added we would go along with the act. Dad ignored us, kept rambling about the men and names he never mentioned before or since (Can't recall them now) before yelling at me to get back down in my room. I did.
A few hours later my dad, who opted to stay down, allowed me and my mom to walk freely around the house. A friend called me, but once my dad heard the phone ringing he ordered me not to answer, saying it was one of them and that it was a trick. I obliged, but at this point I was terrified, annoyed, and kinda angry to be quite honest.
I went and told mom I was calling 911. She begged me not to, I think she was worried it'd make things worse, but I convinced her we REALLY needed to and she finally agreed.
Operator told us help would be there ASAP ahd advised us to find a way to get out of the house. We snuck out the back. Eventually help arrived and talked down my dad and convinced him to go with them. He was diagnosed with a UTI as well as dementia. He was also sapped of his strength after he calmed down. Had to stay in a home for a few months before he came home. Me and especially my mom were wrecks, but when my mom was helping him she did a wonderful job... Well, except when she gave him back POA. I do not like speaking badly about her, but that was beyond dumb... I still wish she was here though...
One positive, my dad got disability mot long after.
That was 8 years ago now, but almost feels like it was yesterday.
Wondering if anyone has dealt with similar behavior and also if anyone has a diagnosis story they'd also like to share...