Talking story with a good friend late last night and his grandma whos been living with increasing dementia came out and was hollering at us. It made me miss my own grandma who lived with Alzheimers. I told my homie how caring for a loved one with dementia is what started my sleep issues back when I was in middle school. I would stay up many a late nights even if we had a late night caretaker to watch her. Helping her through the mist of confusion or hallucinations and making sure she didnt wander out of the house sure wasnt fun but it was still time well spent. We talked more about our grandmothers and realized how many other friends also care for, or have cared for, grandparents with dementia and how such a long and difficult of a process it is. Over the past couple years theyve made links between people with mental health disorders like anxiety and depression or who have sleep disorders as being more at risk of dementia later in life. There is also speculation on how long term use of benzodiazepines like Xanax can increase risk of dementia. So if youre one of the many people carertaking for dementia patients and you have sleep or anxiety problems of your own from the stresses of being a caretaker, the most commonly prescribed treatments for anxiety increase your risk of also having dementia? If thats the case, I rather never get that old. Dementia is no joke and I wish so many people werent affected by it, whether first-hand or by being part of a patients support system. Id rather take chances with cancer than lose my mind like that.
Posted on: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 10:03:15 +0000
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