Still Alice

Daughterof1930,

I was quite impressed with Still Alice, although I found some aspects of Alice's journey into the disease much different from that of my mother's. As I read (and watched) I had to keep reminding myself Still Alice is about early-onset Alzheimer's, which Mom doesn't have and progresses differently than the "garden" variety.

Anyway, many of us who've gained knowledge about dementia through watching others go through it inevitably start questioning our own cognition. (Do I have Alzheimer's??? Eeek!) How can we help it when so much of our attention as caregivers is focused on the progression of dementia in our loved one?

After speaking with my doctor about it, I was reassured. There are other non-dementia causes for forgetfulness, word-finding, misnaming people and things, not the least of which are stress, depression, nutritional deficiencies, etc. You may want to consider bringing it up at your next checkup. Your doctor will know whether or not your concerns are dementia related or not, and whether testing is called for. Most doctors can administer a mini-mental exam that takes only a few minutes.

Wishing you greater peace of mind soon!

Living alone, I talk to myself (or the dog) and today I said to him that I need to get some clothes out of the refrigerator.. He doesn't care. Wonders why I wear clothes at all. The Bible tells us not to worry about the problems of tomorrow as there is enough to go around today. You don't know if you'll even get to old age. None of us do. None of us did before this pandemic. Relax and breathe. I actually liked the book better than the movie.

You and me both Pam. I would not want my SO to take care of me; in fact, I made him promise me if I get Alz/dementia to put me in a NH or MC and forget about me and for him to move on with his life! He did promise me he will do that, but I get the feeling he wasn't telling the truth! To great of a guy?!

I have heard all about it, but I can't watch it,, nor will I replay the Notebook, since dad died of ALZ and I feel this movie will just about kill mom and I. She is now getting slippy. But the one scene in still Alice I have seen is where she tried to OD, and got interrupted and lost her pills. I want to be lucid enough to Remember to take the dang stockpile when the time comes!

I've seen the trailer and hope to watch it. I adore Julianne Moore. I recall her from the old days when she was on a soap.

I am careful about watching some things though, because, you can interpret yourself as being someone with the same condition. I sometimes think that because caregivers of people who have dementia are so engrossed with dementia, we are super sensitive about it. The slightest thing will make me scared that I have it. But, I found that stress and anxiety caused me to have some mental fog and memory loss. After I got out from some of the stress, it went away. Other things like vitamin deficiency, thyroid issue, etc. can cause some of the same symptoms of dementia. Of course, it's smart to check it out, but, I'd wait to confirm, before I got too alarmed.

Daughter,

I call those ‘Hallmark’ movies, ‘victims of the week’ movies. You are so correct in saying that they are so predictable! I can’t watch that mindless junk. Hahaha

Nothing mentally stimulating at all. We can watch something light and funny but it’s still smart! It isn’t insulting to our intelligence or completely boring and predictable.

Thanks everyone! The movie really is a good one, just bad timing for me to watch. And no worries, I have watched my share of mindless fun, my son loves The Masked Singer and always gets me to watch it. And there are the always predictable Hallmark movies where you know the outcome from the first minute. Also, my son has an important appointment this week and my husband was convinced it was a particular day based on the confirmation email I’d forwarded him. I thought it was another day, after all I’d made the appointment. So I checked the patient portal, and I was right, called the office and was told the email was mistaken. Give a cheer for my mind! Haha!

I read the book when I was trying to learn more about the disease ravaging my mother. I helped immensely for understanding in broad strokes what a patient will go through. In a very relatable way, the story presents the difficulties a patient will have from their own perspective.
It's good for understanding more about the disease. Not good for our hypochondriacal tendencies. (Still Alice notwithstanding my mind also goes down that rabbit hole).

Still Alice is a good movie. Daughterof1930, I think sometimes if not most times we forget some things or call something by the wrong name out of stress or tiredness. Don't read more into it than what it is.

Lea is right. It is a good idea to watch light-hearted movies and shows and just relax. I make it a point to do that a lot.

NHWM, you may not want to watch "Still Alice" right now. I think you may need some more time hun.💜

I preferred Alice, Sweet Alice

For me, I find it necessary and REQUIRED to watch nonsensical TV shows like 90 Day Fiance and home improvement shows. Or American Idol. Nothing that causes me even MORE anxiety than I'm already feeling, you know? I tell my mother in MC the same thing. She feels she 'has to' look at a NEWSPAPER every morning b/c it's on her dining table! So that's when her anxiety starts amping up and worsens throughout the day as her dementia and OCD makes every tiny thing even worse than it really is.

We all have to find things to read and watch that cause us to relax instead of get filled with anxiety. I have friends who all try to send me the latest conspiracy theory ideas from the internet, and all sorts of anxiety provoking things that I WILL NOT subject myself to!!! What's the point?

I used to love to watch and read horror stories before I had PTSD in 2000. After that, I avoid that subject like the plague!!! While Alzheimer's is definitely a good subject to learn about, right now is not a good time to diagnose ourselves with such a disease on top of feeling COVID-19 symptoms on a regular basis!

We need a break, in other words. Allow yourself to take one. It's ok to relax. It's okay not to clean if you don't feel like it. It's okay to do nothing if you feel like it. It's okay to stay in your housecoat all day if you feel like it.

We'll all be okay and come out of this situation stronger, if we play our cards right. Sending you a hug and a prayer for a relaxing and spiritually comforting day today, dear woman.

I haven’t seen it. Not sure if I want to now after hearing your commentary.