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Recent studies indicates that the brain just like our body ages. AS soon as we hit the age of 20, we begin losing brain cells in the process. You do not have to worry too much because as we begin losing brain cells, we tend to regenerate new ones as well. Age only dictates how fast we lose brain cells and how fast regenerate them. As we age, the more brain cells we lose and the harder for us to regenerate this lost cells. However, memory loss, dementia and other memory related conditions should not be our concern as of this point. We should keep in mind that memory loss, just like aging is a process, a long and a very slow one.
Some people are lucky because they never had to experience or their family members never had to endure memory loss as their age. Some people, as they age manages to remember every piece and bit of memory they have in their lives; something we all want to achieve when we are all grown up, and old and grumpy. In reality, a lot of individuals on their 60’s still have a very good memory. Some people on the other hand in their late 20’s or early 30’s are already starting to experience memory loss. Thus we can never completely blame ageing for memory loss.
There are many reasons why we lose our memories. Depression and dementia often times triggers memory loss. For those is the later part of their lives, severe memory loss is often linked or caused by the diseases which affects the brain. Injuries and stroke are also some of the common causes of memory loss. Amnesia for example is caused by a head trauma that affects the brain. This type of memory can be temporary and rarely permanent. Fortunately, most people who suffer from amnesia regain their memory after a certain period of time. Addiction to alcohol and drugs can also cause temporary memory loss. The chemicals present in the drugs or in the alcohol that one excessively takes may deteriorate or completely damage brain cells.
Thus a healthy lifestyle is something we need to have to be able to prevent memory loss. Taking I vitamins that are good for the brain is also important.
So do you really have to worry about the potential signs of memory loss that you are experiencing right now? Yes and now. You can still do something about your problem. Instead of worrying, you could focus on finding ways on how to improve your diet or improve your memory to avoid memory loss.
Something is going on in that area. I have to look up simple words that I know I know the spelling of, but I simply don't know for sure anymore... they don't look right to me now. I have to almost talk out loud to myself to get even the simplest task completed, slowly and one step at a time. So many things that before caregiving it was just natural to do and be and think and speak and write now I just... don't know. Its very different right now with how I operate as a person and what my brain does. Its discouraging. I really get the feeling that talking to a doctor or psychiatrist about it will not do any good. They will say of course its the prolonged stressful situation taking a toll... whether that's it or not, I miss the "old me." She had answers for things and no fear of failure and hadn't given up completely... :/ I don't expect perfection, I just want to function. And I'm barely, barely doing that these days. And I'm scared.
looloo, I don't think I have put on a pair of heels in a couple of years... give me the comfort of my SAS brand shoes... one style I call my "nun shoes", I can wear them all day :)
I see an ugly Christmas sweater and a fruitcake in all your futures.
Basket of kittens.. rofl! And let's not forget the fake ceramic garden animals and ornaments. Although I will forever be loyal to the Travelocity gnome. And pink flamingos are the bomb.
As for shoes, I'm such a fuddy duddy now. I'll wear running shoes with everything, and I don't even care how it looks. Can't remember the last time I wore heels, except that it was so painful!
And socially -- I much prefer zoning out to cooking shoes or forensics/mystery type shows, than getting together with people. And I like posting here! :) I'm an introvert anyway. Which isn't really a bad thing -- to enjoy solitude is wonderful. But socializing with people just wears me out. I have no attention span or patience. I just hid the postings of several fb friends this week too. Felt good (evil laugh...) ;)
Oops, it just dawned on me I am typing on a "Keys U see" computer keyboard from one of those independent care catalogs... yellow keys with large black lettering. I bought it for myself last year :P
So the question is: how much is the effect of caregiving/being around old people, and how much is, gulp, the effect of, er, just getting older..?
Working has saved my sanity, as there are interesting people that come into the office.... but most of my conversations still seem to revolve around my parents' doctors.... my good friends have crawled back into the woodwork because they cannot relate :0
What's that quote about television providing artificial friends and relatives to lonely people? =)
I've got to read something, listen to Terry Gross or watch Charlie Rose just to feel halfway human again.
Maybe when things calm down, I'd like to take an online class from one of the universities. There are so many opportunities to do that for free now, it's amazing.
I too have run out of things to say in social situations. I've also gained 20 lbs being here and don't feel very confident to go out. My friends are not here, but when I talk to them, they are leading amazing, adventurous lives (truly) and I really don't have much to add to the conversation.
However, I'm not in a 24 hour care situation, just more of a helper as she has gotten older and frail and dependent. I've gotten into a rut and just often don't have the energy to leave and engage elsewhere, so I just sit here and keep driving her to her appointments. My friends are out of state so I am having to rebuild which takes a lot of energy - and I just don't have it to go be social because mom takes a lot of energy too. So some of this is my fault - most of it really - for not getting out and building a life. This town is also very blah, not much here that is interesting or stylish, but that's really an excuse. I did go out of town for a few days recently and felt incredibly guilty leaving mom here to be lonely - but after a few days i felt like my old self again, happy. I am going to refocus on getting myself more of a life to be able to have something to balance this. Also, if mom passes at some point, I will have no support system here and that's not good.
I would have to say that this situation is 75% my fault. I can't control the situation, that I have to be here, and I do resent the situation having someone be dependent on me (never had children) but it is such that I do have some control over what I do on my own while here. I just let this dependence suck out my energy, then all I have left is to watch the Bachelor and go back to bed.
That darn thermostat at my parent's home.... it is 10-15 degrees higher than mine here at home. But then again, my Mom always feels chilled because of her thyroid condition plus she is very thin. Saw my parents this afternoon, Mom was wearing a thermo undershirt, a polo shirt, and a long sleeve cardigan, long pants, etc. Dad, easy to describe what he's wearing - walking shorts, and that's it. Mom wins when it comes to the battle of the temps.
When it is that hot, my brain starts to fry... maybe it's that heat that has caused me to start losing from of my own memory :0
I had no idea so many women are going through
This. My mom has lived with me 6 1/2 years,
She is bedridden, paranoid schizophrenic, has a colostomy bag, A catheter. Gallstones, Tardive dyskinesia , and no one in the family , has given
1 hour of relief.
I have lost work days, overtime, and went through
My 401k.
I didn't date for 4 years,
My roof leaked last night during the storm,
Her wheelchair I ordered and picked up, went
Airborne from the back of the truck, the hospital
Supply gave me another one, because they
Put it in my truck, instead of laying it down
They locked the wheels and said it won't go
Anywhere, yeah right. I had to get one that reclined, because even when her belt was on
She slid out and a 2 on peg went into her buttock.
You are not alone, I understand what your going
Through, I will never be able to retire, or have
Any kind of vacation. I feel lost and alone.
Now I have to proof-read many times over and even after I send the post to the website, later I will read it and think how I wished there was "editing" capability because I left out a word here and there.
There are times that I think I am coming down with dementia... and here my parents have just age related forgetfulness.
Later I felt better about it. I wouldn't want them around me anyway. Somewhere along the way they lost their heart cells. I'd rather lose brain cells than heart cells.
Let's face it, we'll never be the Waltons here. :)