I cope by taking things one day at a time. Everyday I pray he will have a good day. Sometimes he does and life seems almost normal and other days he does not and life can be hard… like when he is listening more to the voices in his head than to me, or when he believes someone is coming into our home and stealing everything we have, or when he has sorted through his things so many times and can’t find anything because he has hidden everything but cannot remember where or claims those items have been stolen…I try really hard on his bad days to keep him grounded by reminding him of how much I love him and letting know I will always be there to help him through the hard days. Don’t get me wrong, I am not a saint. I have been angry and lashed out at him and felt so terrible afterwards. Tears have been shed by both of us. This is a hard journey, but I know in my heart if our roles were reversed he would be there for me just as I am for him.
I have gotten involved with a support group and that has been very helpful to me. I had been keeping so much inside of me only letting out some things. I now, as a result of the group, find I can talk more easily about my husband’s Alzheimer’s/Dementia to others and that has helped me tremendously. It helps to know you are not in this by yourself. I highly recommend it.