Hi @rloc,
Thank you for your sharing!
I see that your mother's activities and mine are quite similar in many respects. I do also practice physical exercise (Pilates and walking), and hatha and nidra yoga. Those are more root yoga practices. Yoga practice and philosophy have helped me much to improve my sleep, and my humor as well as to deal with several issues of my epilepsy. There is another app that I like more than Headspace, called Insight Timer. They offer great practices of Yoga Nidra (it is a practice in which you just have to lie down and listen). I take my mother to hatha yoga every week (she is 82 years old), she leaves the practice in such a calmer state and smiling again! Again it is a more root yoga practice focused more inside than outside. Asanas (postures) are just instruments to keep your focus of attention on the present moment, being followed by pranayamas (breathing exercises with are more subtle) and other techniques until meditation (Samady). It does relax much my mind and helps me to calm down after a seizure (my mind gets agitated after a seizure). Yogatherapy has more and more being employed in hospital as a support to patients in difficult treatments such as cancer.
Since my evaluation, I have been together with a neuropsychologist, who gave a great support. She has been also very important for my recovery. I also do a daily journal, even when I do not have seizures (I do have about 2 to 3 seizures a month). With that, I have learned better what are my seizure triggers, external and emotional ones. Some seizures do take place after some days after an emotional trigger.
I have not been playing brain games. But I do read much and do other intellectual activities. Did those brain games help your mother?
One thing that my epileptologist said to me to help me in my current studies is to do a summary of every lesson. This helps to fix new knowledge from those with cognitive impairments. I also do write down important things, as I know that I have the risk to forget them. This gives me security and keeps me walking with a smile.
Do others here in our group have suggestions on how to cope with cognitive and other brain impairments and which activities have brought good results? If so, please do share it with us!!! It will be much appreciated!
Thank you!
Chris (Santosha)