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Angry

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I’m not sure why, but all of a sudden I find myself angry at my husband. I snap at him when he asks me the same thing over and over. When he was diagnosed with ALZ I was able to stay calm and compassionate. Now I feel like I’m falling apart. Has anyone else experienced this. He’s in the early stages so he’s not even bad yet.

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  • BPS
    BPS Member Posts: 265
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    As he changes so will you. some things won't bother you much but then for no real reason all of a sudden it will really push your buttons, then later it will not bother you as much again. You can try to always be patient but sometimes all our patients is gone. Just keep doing the best you can.

  • Cat K
    Cat K Member Posts: 28
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    I understand and feel exactly the same way. I try to be patient, but I too get angry and impatient and snap at my DH, especially when I have to clean his incontinence. I've always heard that God doesn't give you more than you can handle, and I asked a friend if he thought that was true. He said yes he did, but that he wasn't in my situation either. Every day I wonder how much longer I have to bear this burden. I just wanted to let you that you are not alone in how you feel.

  • Chris20cm
    Chris20cm Member Posts: 44
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    We shouldn't beat ourselves up when we get frustrated and impatient, but we do. We see new problems and unexplainable behavior changes that don't make sense to us, and we think we should be able to fix or assuage these issues; the repetition, Deja vu, confusing fears or thoughts with reality, it's all so unpredictable. We have to be vigilant, and "meet them where they are" as the saying goes. All we can do is keep trying different things and be willing to accept the unacceptable; try to solve the unsolvable, and forgive the unforgivable. DW is in stage 6 but is better than expected physically. That's a blessing.

  • Cardenas1816
    Cardenas1816 Member Posts: 14
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    I think we all, as caregivers, go through this same struggle. I do like others have mentioned and silently scream/ cry in the shower. I have found it helpful to talk with a therapist regularly. I also journal which helps.

  • jehjeh
    jehjeh Member Posts: 134
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    I don't like that saying. Sometimes we do have more than we can handle and that means it's time to get help. God did not intend for us to go it alone, to do all things and do them well. This site is a great place to find ideas and solutions but sometimes you need someone else to step in so you can have a break. Sometimes, our Loved Ones need placement in MC because it's the best thing for them, and us.

    Blessings,

    jjehjeh

  • CaliforniaGirl-1
    CaliforniaGirl-1 Member Posts: 150
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    Make sure you are taking time away to take care of yourself. You need to be taking regular breaks . Get whatever help you can and if you can find a support group or someone to talk to it will help.

  • Denise1847
    Denise1847 Member Posts: 892
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    You are not alone. I was angry at my DH at first, then realized I was just angry at the situation we were in. Now, he is in stage 6 and Alz is just sucking the life out of both of us. My therapists has explained to me that this anger is very normal and is a part of the grieving process. We grieve the life we thought we would have, we anticipate the loss of our DH and grieve etc. I am angry at my family who has truly abandoned us - never calls, never visits. Don't be hard on yourself.

  • H1235
    H1235 Member Posts: 962
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    I think those really rough times have made me a better person. I’ve had days I couldn’t even manage a simple smile for the cashier at the grocery store. I found myself being that grumpy person. I recall times in the past I’ve seen people that have been grumpy and unable to smile with considerably less compassion than I should have given them. I no longer think, would it hurt them to just smile.

  • Russinator
    Russinator Member Posts: 247
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    I understand and feel exactly the same way. I try to be patient, but I too get angry and impatient and snap at my DW.

  • PlentyQuiet
    PlentyQuiet Member Posts: 103
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    Burn out, pure and simple. 24/7 caretakingis hard, and draining. You need to find a way to get respite care if at all possible.

    I have times where I can roll with it, but then stretches where I just can't. I think about going to bed from the minute I get up and deal with headaches. This is my personal sign that it is time to pay for additional help to get some time away.

    Dh is now in hospice, but could linger for quite a while. I too just want this to be done

  • jsps139_
    jsps139_ Member Posts: 268
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    Something that helped me … as I was totally grossed out cleaning the slimy poligrip and food from my husbands dentures, I had a thought. What if these were Jesus’s dentures I was cleaning. I thought … I would be honored to clean them. The scripture came to me … when you do it to the least of these my brothers, you do it unto me. Now, I think of that everyday when cleaning those dentures and my attitude is completely different.

  • Lgb35
    Lgb35 Member Posts: 145
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    do you find journaling helpful in releasing the anger? I find I am irritated with the never ending questions. DH is still working yet at home it is non-stop questions. How is he still working? Sometimes he tells me he isn’t talking to me because I am mean. Or he asks why I’m grumpy all the time. I feel bad

  • BPS
    BPS Member Posts: 265
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    I Journal on my lap and it helps me get my feeling out and somewhat organized. Then a day or two later I go back and read what I wrote and usually delete part of it because putting it down helped me in the moment but a lot of times it is not something that I would want anyone to read later. I do leave a lot of my experiences and feeling that someone my read some day. I am sure if I went back read it again there are things that I would say different but I haven't ever gone back to read older things.

  • Nya
    Nya Member Posts: 2
    Third Anniversary First Comment
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    I am so grateful to have found this site. It an answer to prayer. I had been getting to my limit in having to answer the same questions all day long. The 10 absolutes in dementia care showed me I was violating all of them! No wonder we were struggling so much! Thank you, to whoever shared them! Already I am feeling much better and have less stress and more hope of being able to handle this, at least today!

Commonly Used Abbreviations


DH = Dear Husband
DW= Dear Wife, Darling Wife
LO = Loved One
ES = Early Stage
EO = Early Onset
FTD = Frontotemporal Dementia
VD = Vascular Dementia
MC = Memory Care
AL = Assisted Living
POA = Power of Attorney
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