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I can tell you that i have cried so many "silent tears" where no one is aware. It is very lonely and hard place to imagine being in. I have been through all the stages of grieving even though my sweet husband is still alive. The MCD is not severe at this point but i see it increasing daily. It is scary, tramautizing, and i feel that nobody understands the impact it has on me or him. Although my husband seems ok with the circumstance to a certain degree. His biggest complaint would be not being able to walk due to parkinsons. He doesnt recognize that he has cognitive decline. I go to counseling a few times a month to vent and woe is me. It helps get things off my mind. I feel like the world is a different place now. My perception of life is different than it was before. I have little support from family and i have to pay counselors for support. I find myself being more cynical than i used to be.

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Replies to "I can tell you that i have cried so many "silent tears" where no one is..."

It's so easy to be angry and become cynical. In fact, I believe it's an inevitable part of this journey we're all on (I hate that use of "journey" but needs must). The thing is, you can't live for long, certainly not happily, if you carry that around with you all the time. Life is different now and the challenges are read and increasing, but we, as caregivers, still have our own lives to live and enjoy. It's so important to have a support team. This site is invaluable, but it's good to have real people you can speak to honestly and openly. It's not courageous to keep your feelings to yourself; it's self-destruction. Seeing a therapist is a good idea and a good starting point. Can you find support groups in your area that meet in person? Can you find other caregivers who might be in a similar situation to yours? No one, even a therapist, really understands unless they're dealing with this overwhelming, day-in, day-out new reality. I know of many folks who are caring for declining spouses. Sharing our stories, even at secondhand is really helpful and it keeps things in perspective. Someone's always worse off than you are. Find joy where you can and don't let it slip away.