Dementia: What Can We do?
So many of us are dealing with aging parents, many of whom have dementia. My mother is going to be 100 in July and has dementia. I feel lucky because she still recognizes me, and I get to talk to her on the phone, almost daily. She does not live close to me, so visits aren’t that frequent, but I know the calls have been helpful to her and definitely for me. I have never had to be her caregiver, which I think would be so much tougher. So, I cannot speak about how that would feel. I am grateful that I have other family members who live closer to her that can visit often. My sister visits her a couple of times a week and has been her caregiver for years. I appreciate her so much for doing this. It is not an easy job, as you may well know if you are a caregiver for your parent. I have noticed that many of my friends are caring for or making decisions for their parents who are unable to make their own decisions. Even if you are not a caregiver, communicating with our loved ones can be challenging or frustrating. This is something we may have never prepared for, but this disease is becoming more common every day. We all know someone who is suffering from this disease. What can we do?
I have been studying Alzheimer’s, which is a disease of Dementia, for several years. I have interviewed Dr. Dale Bredesen, one of the leading experts in the world on Alzheimer’s. You can listen to those interviews on the blog by searching for Dr. Dale Bredesen. The most recent interview is here. Dr. Bredesen and the research show that Alzheimer’s is a preventable disease. That is why I am writing this article. I have been thinking about how I can take steps to keep my brain as healthy as possible for as long as possible. We are talking about healthspan vs. lifespan. I do not want to live to 100 if I am not healthy both physically and mentally. So, I am taking steps to create a long healthspan!
Many of us know the importance of eating a healthy diet, free of toxic chemicals, pesticides, GMOs, seed oils, and processed foods. We know this, but if you do not, you can find all of this information on this site. It’s here and available for you to research. We also know that exercise is an important tool for preventing this disease. Doing new things, like learning a new language or learning anything new, is helpful. Eliminating toxins in your home is essential for great health. These are some of the environmental issues that are important in the prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease. Dr. Bredesent discusses all of this in his books and our interviews. But this is mostly the physical.
But what about our emotional, mental, and spiritual bodies that may carry stress, anger, anxiety, depression, judgment, being unforgiving, fear, hopelessness, and the list could go on and on. All of these issues affect your brain and the quality of your life. I have worked with many people over the years to create a healthy diet and lifestyle. I have found in working with many clients that they could be eating the cleanest foods that work for their physical body–but if they were holding on to issues that interfere with the joy and contentment in their life, those issues are affecting their brain.
This disease robs you and your loved ones of the quality of life that you so desire. Most of us want to live a joyful life but many do not want to let go of issues that interfere with that quality of life. It does take some work but boy is it ever worth it!
This is why I wrote my book, You Are Not Your Issue. In my book, I share with my readers some of the issues from working with many clients and some of the issues I carried from childhood. I offer tools and guidance on how I resolved those issues, some of which are ongoing.
In speaking with my mother over the past 5 years on almost a daily basis, I am so grateful that I have done and am doing the work to resolve those issues so that I can teach others. It requires so much patience and compassion to be present with her. I don’t feel frustrated or angry and attribute that to the work I have done on myself. It has been essential. If we do not have compassion on ourselves we cannot offer it to another.
I also feel like in doing this work, I am creating a healthier brain. I am not saying that I am an expert or have all the answers in the prevention of this horrible disease, but I know letting go of your issues will help. Personally, I do not want to forget the people who are so important to me, nor do I want to be a burden to my children or anyone else. This work has been essential for me to create a loving relationship with my mother and others, and it has been and is worth it! I love my mom so much more now than I ever have because I took the time to get to know the human being who always wanted the best for her children, even with the mistakes she feels she made as a parent. I think she is amazing and would not have said that 20 years ago. Letting go of your issues brings you more peace in your life.
At Food Integrity Now, I have offered years of information on what to avoid and how to eat a healthy diet. I will continue to educate in that area, but working with groups and individuals on letting go of self-limiting beliefs and issues that do you serve you is as important. I am now offering classes or individual coaching on You Are Not Your Issue. If you are interested in learning more, go here. It is always your choice on how you want to show up for yourself or others. I feel this class can assist. I hope you join us! Be well! Carol
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