An Unexpected Trigger
**Trigger Warning**Dementia**Alzheimers**
I don't know if we are allowed to talk about celebrities or not on 7 Cups, but I recently felt triggered by something in the news and I just can't seem to get past it. The Hackmans.
Of course, I didn't know them, except the movies he made, and that certainly wasn't "him" but, you see, my dad got Alzheimers after a surgery (the anesthesia) and he suffered for 8 years until his death. My mother was his caregiver and she suffered greatly as well. I have also had friends who had differing degrees of dementia. I cannot imagine the anguish his wife must have felt, I'm sure she realized in the end that the inevitable was happening, and the terror/confusion that poor man must have gone through. I am almost feeling a grief as if members of my own family had succumbed to that fate. The only thing, I guess that could soften this is, is that they are now both in the arms of God, and safe, loved, and cared for. 😢
@HiddenSwan25 🙁 I just looked this up and read a newspaper report😥 that is extremely sad, no wonder this triggered you. Sits beside you and wraps you in a warm blanket, and hugs you tightly 💗 it is a very heartbreaking way to go, God bless them. But your right they are together now, and happy in Heaven💖 I just said a little prayer for God to look after them up there💖
@Tinywhisper11
Thank you.
@HiddenSwan25 it's ok to cry you know, my arms are always open to give you hugs💖💖
Just. PLEASE- anyone who is, or has a loved one who is in delicate health, whether Alzheimers or any other condition, or even if you simply live alone, please get an emergency call button with a fall alarm. Even if the person can no longer remember how to use the phone, or any other lifesaving ADLs, if they bang the thing on a countertop, wall, or God forbid if they fall, it will call a dispatcher and if there isn't a suitable response on the speaker within a specific amount of time, the EMTs will show up at your door to do a welfare check. Even if it's in error, it's well worth the inconvenience to be sure you or your loved one is safe. Additionally, many communities have a daily call check service in which volunteers have a list of ppl to call once or twice a day to prevent unknown tragedy. I keep thinking that there must be many, many of these cases happening that we are unaware of. 💔
@HiddenSwan25 thankyou for letting us all know💖💖
@HiddenSwan25.Trigger warning ⚠️ Dementia. Hi I have a loved one with memory problems who is currently being tested for a diagnosis. It’s a challenging and stressful situation for both of us. I agree that it is comforting that they are both together. Gene Hackman was a fantastic actor he will be missed.
@HiddenSwan25
My mom dropped my grandma off at my apartment so I could look after her while she was in the early stages of Alzheimer's. I thought it a bit strange she did that, but she was pretty unpredictable, with severe mental health problems, so I decided it was for the best. It didn't occur to me until years later that it was REALLY strange because I was only 17 years old at the time.
It actually worked out okay, until she needed a higher level of care and supervision I could provide. Before that, I enjoyed having her around and felt as though I'd gotten to know her for the first time. I think she felt the same way about me.
Well, my Grandma passed away from Alzheimer's and so did my Mom, therefore it would seem that I'm also at risk for it. I'm hoping I take after my Dad's side of the family. His Mom lived to 2 weeks short of her 100th birthday and still had all her wits about her. My Mom and Grandma both died several years younger than I currently am, so I'm hoping for the best. I do treat my body far better than either of them treated theirs.
I've also worked at nursing homes and memory care centers. It's heartbreaking, and rewarding at the same time. I've also done some volunteer work with dementia patients. One of the things I've learned is that compassion is very instrumental in relieving anxiety and suffering. Even when communication is gone, patients will often respond to gentle touch and warm eye contact.
I think it's wonderful that you care so much about those suffering with dementia. It really helps caregivers to know someone understands what they're going through.
@Spiritriver
Thank you Spirit, for this post. 💛
My spouse has dementia and this was hard to read about. It's so sad they did not have a support system that detected the problems. Money and fame does not buy everything that is for sure.
Very sad.
My triggers:
- The Happy Birthday song.
- Being touched without permission.
- When people don’t use my preferred name.
- Pregnant women.
- Being called any pronouns other than she/her/hers.
- People younger than me being in love/having babies.
- Sudden loud noises.
- When people question/insult my sexual orientation.
- Being forced to look at people.
- Voice chats.
- When opposite-gender couples have premarital sex.
- Being called “dear”.
- Underage drinking.
- Drugs.
- Being called a pedophile.
- Gymnasts.
- Cheerleaders.
- Ice skaters.
- Non-binary people.
- Anything that reminds me of high school gym class.
- Misogyny.
- Vegans (I’m lacto-ovo vegetarian).
- Hunting.
- Fishing.
- Child abuse.
- When people ask about my living situation.
- Being called ugly.
- Animal abuse.
- When people touch/use my things without asking.
- Being called sensitive.
- Being called selfish.
- People who think they’re witches.
- Devil worshippers.
- Childbirth.
