Preventing outbursts

LearningCurve

Greetings, I am in need of ideas to prevent outbursts and/or stopping them. My DH has been prone to outbursts prior to this terrible disease. I am feeling more like he is the hammer and I am the nail. It is just the two of us and our 2 sweet dogs. Thank you in advance.

SDianeL

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/74847/preventing-outbursts

I doubt you can prevent or stop outbursts. Their filter is gone. Their short term memory is gone. You can’t reason with them. Is there a particular thing that triggers them?

tboard

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/74847/preventing-outbursts

It is hard to prevent outbursts they happen. There are some topics that are more likely to cause agitation. I cannot mention anything about the car, any car, car insurance, driving, gasoline, transportation etc. Those are triggers because DH isn't allowed to drive anymore. Other triggers are the tree in the backyard, the Lilac bush, and the next door neighbor. Some of these are unavoidable. Outbursts and agitation can also be caused by hunger, thirst, tiredness, being too hot or cold. Sometimes I can calm him down by offering a beverage, sandwich or one of the muffins I bake for him.

Do not argue or engage because when you do you are arguing with a disease and you won't win. It takes patience and practice . . . especially for those of us who have been married 45+ years and are used to arguing.

Bailey's Mom

My husband has always been prone to outbursts also…his family motto is…whomever can yell the loudest wins. I have gotten so that I don't really talk to him about anything anymore because I never know what will trigger a tantrum. I have to tread oh so carefully when he talks (lectures) to not say the wrong thing…it is very tiring and by the end of the day I usually make a mistake and cause a meltdown. I'm hoping that he will calm down a little as he progresses, but so far that has not happened. Like SDianeL said…there is really no way to stop it as they can't be reasoned with. Good luck…at least this is a place where you can rant…some of us are in a similar situation, and even if their spouses are one of the sweet, compliant ones, everyone understands.

Dio

In my experience, outbursts often came out of nowhere. Toward the latter part, before and after placement, it was shower, brush up, wash up, changing diaper/soiled clothes that set him off. None of the Teepa Snow tips helped. It was trial and error with meds. Depakote finally worked to calm his brain.

LearningCurve

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/260969#Comment_260969

Thank you. I think the light bulb in my head just flickered. Great examples.

LearningCurve

Depakote.. ahhhh. Thank you.

LearningCurve

Thanks, I soooo get this.

LearningCurve

Appletree4

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/74847/preventing-outbursts

I completely understand.

These thoughts that just pop into their heads and because the disease is so different because we as people are very unique.

After all, God made us unique and yet created in the same way

My H is in stage five he’s good in the morning mid afternoon to late at night. angry bear a very mean nasty person.

I keep in mind that the right hand is the disease. The left hand is a person I love.

Is he the person or is he the disease?

I have learned in the past three years to take it one day at a time.

Appletree4

midge333

It sounds like he needs to be medicated for his outbursts and your safety. First step is often an antidepressant (for example: citalopram) and an antipsychotic (for example: quetiapine or seroquel).