Mental Health Awareness

I read other caregivers of Alz. pts. stories.

I'm working on it incrementally.


Began with 30-60 minutes of respite break to go outside and walk or jog in the sun; the latter helps me and particularly if I can jog thru or around a park. Something about an irregular trail or dirt path instead of a straight line or uniform laps relaxes my mind while I'm in motion... and pleasantly for a time after I'm calmer and more settled in company or caregiving.


After a few crises where I called the Alzheimer's Association (1-800-272-3900) I resolved to explore finding an Adult Day Care Community or Center focused on dementia and #alz. I was fortunate to find the Glenner Center in our area and took steps to visit/tour 1 of their 3 facilities. I hope they or another similar resource might be in your community. There are charities to help pay for some respite breaks. Mom started two half-days a week and it was a shock to my system and a blessing just to KNOW that I would have a break I could rely upon in the near future - even when it was days away. I did not make the best use of those first respite hours to be more productive - but finally was able to rest a bit and reflect and consider my own health and well-being.


Beyond respite moments or help - to find time to think or time to NOT THINK and just be - I have found practicing BOX Breathing to be helpful (although a bit unnatural to me and discomforting to pause my breathing at first... I do find the pattern helps me in anxious moments that I'm fortunate enough to recognize and recall it and apply it). Even in traffic commuting surprisingly and quite effectively the other day. So I'll do more of that.


Another thing I've done is attend 3 in-person Caregiver focused events... 2 educational/informational and 1 simply for coffee on a patio among other Care Givers in my community. In all those sessions I have found the most comforted and normal in conversation with other caregivers. For myself far more comforting than online forums or meetings. The simple coffee talk session without other agendas was the most positively impactful to me personally and I look forward to their next session immensely for that simple connection as bits of those conversations and those people understood and were CURRENTLY IN the same journey (of a kind, and at different points of course) but it was truly comforting to meet them and share and hear a bit from each as we simply introduced ourselves. And honestly some of their questions about my well-being and what I was doing for myself really landed deeply with me.


Another technique that I had heard of and discounted, but was introduced to with an actual group exercise in one of the recent Caregiving seminars was Deep Breathing along with Guided Imagery. There are countless narrated exercises with those keyword searches on Youtube publicly available. With more time I'll try to find the right one that I found so helpful. It was simple and surprised me with how relaxed I felt as it concluded (even with a construction crew outside the window jack-hammering away in the road).


Guided Imagery seems to require about 12-15 minutes but I think it's something I'll practice more with a personal goal to see if I cannot summon it for myself from recall and practice in the months ahead. So many times we are raw and exhausted and frustrated and we have no one but ourselves to rely upon.. and no time to sit at a computer and focus - but maybe with time I can summon one from memory for myself or perhaps I'll find a way to listen to it on my smartphone. I think this technique of Deep Breathing with Guided Imagery and the Box Breathing techniques will be my 1st tools.


As the respite care schedule became dependable among Mom and me, she looked forward to each visit there and her new friends and staff there who were truly positive and adept at redirecting and caring for dementia "guests". In parallel I continue to work on my health and diet and daily walks, and adding 1 or more jogs weekly. I am convinced I have be be both more disciplined in some ways - and allow myself to rest and seek care or comfort too in less structured ways or times also.


I not unexpectedly had the worst fitness exam of my life when I resumed simply making an appointment with my own primary care physician (PCP) instead of scheduling and attending all of Mom's (Alz) or Dad's (Advanced Dementia). However I've made progress - and for me the daily walks by myself (or with Mom shorter distances) outside in the sun or breeze help us both, the jogs thru the park help me, the Box Breathing on occasion and perhaps the Guided Imagery technique too are comforting and help me re-collect myself.


In addition I had to acknowledge the stress, anxiety, racing thoughts, insomnia, and frankly dark thoughts with a few friends and family and finally my primary care physician (PCP) too. She was helpful. I'm exploring some therapist conversations (virtual so far). My therapist and my PCP are helping me put things in perspective and frame a few goals incrementally. The biggest hurdle for me was allowing myself to ASK for help and engage with others.


My mental health and well-being are improving. I now measure my progress in weeks and months rather than minute-by-minute or every 30-90 minutes day and night. For this realization and other caregivers like ourselves here and on social media like IG and in the seminars and support groups I'm thankful.

Here is 1 link I find helpful to a "Deep Breathing with Guided Imagery" activity. For myself I just close my eyes and listen, although there is a video to watch if you like. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F28MGLlpP90