As The Primary Caregiver, Should I Journal My Feelings About Alzheimer's Disease?


Being a caregiver is stressful and difficult. It involves contradictory feelings, thoughts and frustrations. When you have to care for a loved one who has Alzheimer's, you have to be patient, talk with a calm voice and never "talk down" to your loved one.

Journaling your thoughts and feelings will definitely help you cope with the situation. Write in your journal all that comes through your mind and your heart; nobody but you will read it. It is between you and your journal. Let your pen guide you through the pages. You may want to do some extra research on Alzheimer's disease to better understand the process and stages your loved one will pass through. If you are a little bit knowledgeable about the disease, the process of caring will be easier on both you and your loved one.

You can keep daily notes on your loved one, such as bathing or eating changes, whether she becomes agitated, and so on. It can also help you remember things to discuss with the doctor.

The good thing about a journal is that it is handy and you can write whenever you feel like it, day or night. It will never contradict you. On the contrary, it will aid you in dealing with your internal emotions; it will relieve your mind and your soul. If you are uncomfortable about writing, then it may be easier for you to express your feelings by recording them on a tape recorder. If you like, you can recall some family gathering you all had together, a camping trip or fishing trip where your loved one caught a BIGGGGG fish! You can read this part to him and it might trigger some memory in your loved one?a memory that was lost to Alzheimer's.

Journaling will also help you release the burden of care giving you may have. Releasing the burden through the pen will definitely ease the pain. But journaling should not be the only way out for these strong feelings you have. You may want to enroll in a support group. You can check through the Alzheimer's Association if there is such a group in you area. Speaking to other people will help in getting all these negative emotions out. And most of the participants are dealing with exactly the same emotions because they have to care for a loved one who has dementia. Sometimes, speaking out loud and getting out these feelings will do you a lot of good and you will feel much better after. You may even make friends through these groups, friends that will be able to support you as time goes on.

Remember, you are not alone. You have friends and family to talk to. Maybe you can ask a family member to help with your loved one. It will ease the burden and give you more time to yourself, to journal and to recharge your batteries.

About The Author

William G. Hammond, JD is a nationally known elder law attorney and founder of The Alzheimer's Resource Center. He is a frequent guest on radio and television and has developed innovative solutions to guide families who have a loved one suffering from Alzheimer's.


More Resources

Unable to open RSS Feed $XMLfilename with error HTTP ERROR: 404, exiting

More Alternative Information:

Related Articles

Health and Anti-Aging
Some words about anti-aging and disease preventionThe aging process is for the greater part no mystery anymore. It consists for a great part of daily damages done on the macroscopic, tissue, cellular and genetic levels.
What Type of Arthritis Do You Have?
Arthritis dates back to prehistoric times and is seen all through the ages in the joints of the skeleton remains.Most of you will have problems with your joints and it may be arthritis.
Herbe Fraiche Essential Oil : A Combination of Forest Essences
Herb Fraiche essential oil is derived from essential oils complex blended from plant substances such as pine, thyme and mint. The refreshing plant fragrance induces a calming effect and relieves fatigue after a long day.
Cause Of Stuttering
When a person has a stutter or a parent realises that their child is developing a stutter they often want to find out the cause.So what causes a stutter?The answer is many things can trigger someone starting to stutter.
4000 Year Old Secrets of Green Tea
The Chinese have known about the medicinal benefits of green tea for over 4,000 years. But recent studies are just starting to unlock these ancient secrets of green tea.
Why Your Mattress May Be Killing You
The organic movement, which started with organic food, is moving to the bedroom in a big way. "The bedroom? " you say.
Heres Hope for Parkinsons Disease
Frank's 85 year-old father was in advanced stages of Parkinson's.Confined to a wheelchair.
A Lifestyle Approach to Remedy Snoring
If you want to remedy snoring, you have to find the underlying cause. Snoring is not an affliction like the common cold, where you wake up one morning and you've just got it.
Human Health Modification Using Sun Light and Frequency
Human behavior could be modified using light preferably real sunlight. A person could rest in a hammock while a large fan would rotate at a prescribed speed.
Could You Have Lyme and Not Know It?
If you have ever been bitten by a tick, flea, mosquito, gnat, or mite or have been sexually active with someone who has been bitten, then you are at risk for Lyme Disease. Lyme can also be transmitted from mother to unborn child and through breast-feeding.
Migraines Are The Great Equalizers
Migraine headaches must be one of the great equalizers that tell you in no uncertain terms to stop what ever you are doing now!Anyone who has suffered from this kind of headache will be able to relate to this article, it is something like childbirth; it's not something you can fully appreciate unless you have experienced it.I must have been about eleven or twelve years old when I had my first one.
Why Use An Aromatherapy Diffuser?
We breathe 22,000 times a day, inhaling 400 cubic feet of air.We spend 80% of our time indoors where air may be no cleaner than outdoors air.
Dopamine Relieves Pain - Try Encouraging Your Subconscious To Supply It
Dopamine has long been known to be linked to positive experiences such as eating and sex. But it's now known to be released when you're in pain, so you may want to try increasing your supply of it--naturally.
The Many Advantages of Herbal Medicine
Nowadays is the era of everything that is herbal and natural. Millions of "all natural," "all herbal" health and dietary supplements are swamping the markets today.
Revolutionary Medicine: Shockwave Therapy for Chronic Pain Sufferers
Stripped from the scenes from science fiction novels and films, shockwave therapy is a newage alternative to chronic pain sufferers. Utilized not only on humans for over 25 years for urologic and orthopedic conditions, shockwave therapy has even been introduced to veterinary and equine medicine as well.
Bleeding Gums
Bleeding gums can be one sign of periodontal disease, gingivitis, or other serious problems. Other symptoms of poor dental health may include persistent bad breath, toothache, and receding gums.
Eucalyptus Oil for Colds and Flu
Recently I came down with a cold, flu, and some heavy chest congestion. My 8-year daughter also became sick.
Get Hemorrhoid Relief from Herbal Remedies
Here are four different herbs that can give you hemorrhoid relief and help to get rid of your hemorrhoids. Using these herbs is a convenient and cost effective way to treat your hemorrhoid symptoms.
Junk Food Is Not Easier To Eat
There is something to be said about fast food being more convenient then healthy food that helps you be thin. I will give you that.
Muget Des Bois: A Healing Victory
Known by its other name as Lily of the Valley or May Lily, muget des bois is an English plant used commonly as a perfume. Since the discovery of its virtues in aromatherapy, the use of muget des bois for healing has been increasingly widespread.