During the first few years of my mom's battle with Alzheimer's, I was an emotional wreck. I cried all the time. I got angry and overreacted a lot. I had really big emotions over the smallest things. It wasn't until I became familiar with the terms ambiguous loss and ambiguous grief that my emotional overwhelm … Continue reading Ep 10: Ambiguous Loss and Ambiguous Grief
Tag: early onset alzheimer’s
My Mom’s Alzheimer’s Battle Was a Roller Coaster Ride
During my mom’s 10-year battle with Alzheimer’s, I felt like I was on a roller coaster that I didn’t agree to get on. I don’t even like roller coasters in the first place. They make me dizzy and nauseous and they’re not even that much fun. And the roller coaster of my mom’s Alzheimer’s was … Continue reading My Mom’s Alzheimer’s Battle Was a Roller Coaster Ride
Ep 9: Your Anger Is Justified, But It’s Not Serving You
Have you ever felt angry that your loved one has Alzheimer's or dementia? Do you feel angry when you think about everything you have lost and how much your life has changed? Are you angry that your family has to go through this while others don't? I used to feel angry about all of those … Continue reading Ep 9: Your Anger Is Justified, But It’s Not Serving You
Ep 8: Using Gratitude to Cope with What You’re Going Through
For a long time during my mom's Alzheimer's battle, I mostly focused on what I had lost--not what I still had. That left me feeling sad, hopeless, and depressed almost all of the time. At some point, I decided that I needed to do something different to better cope with what I was going through. … Continue reading Ep 8: Using Gratitude to Cope with What You’re Going Through
Ep 7: How to Stop Feeling So Much Guilt
Do you ever feel guilty when it comes to caring for your loved one with Alzheimer's or dementia? If you answered yes, you're not alone! Virtually every single caregiver I've ever spoken to feels guilty about something, or many things. I learned that no matter how much I did for my mom, I always found … Continue reading Ep 7: How to Stop Feeling So Much Guilt
Ep 6: An Introduction and My Alzheimer’s Story
Welcome to a brand new episode of The Life, Love, and Alzheimer's Podcast! This is long overdue! As you may know, I originally launched this podcast back in 2018. I gave up after recording only five episodes, and I am so excited to be relaunching this podcast today! Click play to hear: My background, my … Continue reading Ep 6: An Introduction and My Alzheimer’s Story
I Have Some Exciting News to Share!
I’m so excited to announce that I am re-launching The Life, Love, and Alzheimer’s Podcast! As you may know, I originally started this podcast back in 2018. I recorded five episodes and then quit. At the time, my mom was still alive and I was living far away from her. She was in Delaware with … Continue reading I Have Some Exciting News to Share!
My Mom Would Be Proud of the Woman I’ve Become
We buried my mom three years ago today. I want to hug both women in the photo below, but the girl on the right—I want to grab her and squeeze her and tell her she’s going to be okay. Getting ready for her mom’s funeral, wearing her mom’s sweater in her mom’s favorite color. Standing … Continue reading My Mom Would Be Proud of the Woman I’ve Become
My Thoughts on Grief Three Years After My Mom Died
Three years ago today, I was having coffee for the first time in our new house, when my dad called to tell me that my mom had died. It seemed so unexpected, but in reality, it was not. On that day and the days that immediately followed, the grief was fresh and raw. I tried … Continue reading My Thoughts on Grief Three Years After My Mom Died
Focusing on the Good Is a Choice
Whenever I share something about being positive or changing your perspective, I always get a little push back. “Easier said than done.” “Easy to say when you’re not going through it.” “It’s easy to be positive when you’re looking back. It’s hard to do when you’re in the thick of it.” Now that I’m on … Continue reading Focusing on the Good Is a Choice