Recovering from being startled?
A member asked this question on Facebook. I'm hoping other members will be able to provide feedback for him. -"I wish I could connect with others who have come back from Alzheimer's and find out how long if ever the mental dysfunction of being startled by just about anything that happens out of the ordinary, like any unexpected noise. I jump and yell for just a moment before collecting myself - then I feel bad that it happened and I reacted that way - kind of depressing - well very depressing and it takes me a while to forget it happened. Love for it to go away."
What do you mean by "come back from Alzheimer's ". Also, nighttime car rides with husband are frightening: lights, lane changes and approaching other cars from behind. I think some of it is distorted depth perception.
Hi Marilyn! Thanks for sharing. To clarify, are you the one driving? I ask because my father drove for a while before his Alzheimer's disease progressed further and we had to take his keys away. Daily plans and responsibilities can be challenging when caregiving, but have you tried limiting the early morning or evening car rides? Might you have your husband try wearing sunglasses to lessen the glare? When taking long car rides with my father, there were times when he took Dramamine to help with some of the twists and turns in the road and to feel less anxious. Please check with your medical team to learn whether this is a safe option for him. I also found that if I gave my father something to hold, like a favorite stuffed animal and sometimes my pocketbook, it helped. He held these items tight and didn't focus much on the road once he was provided with a responsibility. Our community is here if you. All my best, Nancy Team member
I would recommend an article by one of our community advocates who lives with Alzheimer's disease and talks about how noise and "unexpected noises" effects her. I have attached the article link below. https://alzheimersdisease.net/living/filtering-noise. Just Keep Swimming...Lynn Marie, "AlzheimersDisease.net Team Member"
