When the great medical hypnotist, Milton Erickson, taught hypnosis for pain control, he pointed out that there were three areas that needed to be addressed. First there is the pain that is being experienced presently, secondly the memory of the pain that has already occurred and lastly the pain that is anticipated. By creating an amnesia for the past pain, future discomfort is no longer dreaded. The amount of pain has thus been reduced by two thirds since the patient's mind is now only aware of the present moment.
The mind of the person with Alzheimer's functions much the same. There is an amnesia for the past and minimal thought to the future. All that remains is the present. Built in pain control is a blessing I did not expect. Mother's condition might appear sad to those who remember what she used to be, but it's not all gloom.
Some good things about Mother's dementia:
1.The amnesia means she is unaware of what she has lost and what she can no longer do.
2.She lives in the present so there is no fear of death.
3.She no longer has to be responsible as she has been all her life. I highly doubt she ever had an unmade bed, overlooked a bill that was due, left a dirty pot on the stove, neglected to take prescribed medicine or floss her teeth. Senility means she is finally off the hook.
4. Her weight, her grooming, matching colors and wearing tasteful and proper attire occupied a lot of her attention. Now she doesn't think much about her appearance.
5.She used to be very difficult to please. There are days now, I can make her happy.
6.A stiff and formal woman in younger days, she has grown to love hugs.
Even Alzheimer's has it's silver lining.
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