← Return to Dealing with Anger and Disbelief in person with dementia
DiscussionDealing with Anger and Disbelief in person with dementia
Caregivers: Dementia | Last Active: Sep 12, 2022 | Replies (28)Comment receiving replies
Replies to "Thank you for sharing so much. We are not quite at that stage, yet, but i..."
I have a husband who has anger issues but I believe over the 30 years of our marriage, he does not get as angry as he used to. I realized early on that he was trying to control and intimidate me. There was one time early in our marriage when I was actually afraid of what he might do to me, a familiar feeling I had in my previous marriage. The only thing that broke up his anger was the screen door of the camper I took refuge in.
Thankfully he walked away. I have tried with humor to calm him down and it seems to be working. I try to let him see the funny side of life and show him not everything is a crisis. He is very high strung and set in his ways so there are some things I choose to ignore. When I drive the car, he is the worst backseat driver you ever saw. I choose to ignore his yelling but I continue to watch the road and refuse to get rattled. I jokingly tell him if he doesn’t stop picking on me, I will drop him off and he can walk home.
About your husband, I think his anger is his being unhappy with his condition and making you feel like it’s all your fault. You will try everything to make him happy and you rush to fix it! It’s like you are saying unless he’s happy, no one else should be happy. What’s that saying “unless Mama is happy, no one else is happy.” I am sorry he is sick, just like my husband, but he is acting like a child having a temper tantrum, taking out his anger on you and anyone else around. He needs to find his own happiness inside himself instead of expecting everyone else to do that for him. His anger isn’t fair to use against you or anyone else and he likes to see you all jumping to make him happy (and he might be just acting). You might have to treat him like a child, being firm but loving. Like saying, “I’m sorry you aren’t having a good day” and leave him alone to find out how he can make things better for himself. He needs to find out why he is so angry and stop taking it out on everyone else. That’s called “a Bully.”
Sorry if I’m too harsh!
Hope his medications help. It is so hard, especially not knowing what can trigger it (once Bill exploded at me over a new jar of peanut butter as he thought it tasted funny and I didn't). I end up taking walks a lot.
This morning Robin and I finished setting up his den with new 65 TV and Robin actually could get his TV streamer hooked up to it so it goes directly to his hearing aids and we don't have to listen to the sound - or have it blasting. I do love his streamer. We got his new lift chair put together as well. He is having problems with the remote for the chair as it has two more buttons than the other one.
Once we assured him that he wasn't being isolated and that he still had the other lift chair so whenever he wanted to be in the other room he could. Then he was pleased and settled back to watch his golf while Robin and I played mad dogs or Englishmen and walked in the noon day sun.
We are hopeful that the Mayo doctors will be able to come up with something to help on the anger, stress and anxiety issues. His appointment is set for the 20th so fingers crossed - along with eyes and toes.
You take your victories where and how you can lol!