Alzheimer’s takes so much away.
The person you knew and loved is not there anymore. You can still see them, but it’s not them. They are there, but they are gone. They are no longer standing as who they once were. They’ve fallen, and become someone else.
Alzheimer’s is such a tragic disease.
Most of us have lost loved ones to one form of disease or another. Disease, injuries, accidents, illnesses. All kinds of troublesome events can take our loved ones away from us.
Heartbreaking.
Loss and grief are such painful emotions.
If your heart is breaking, or has been broken by watching your loved one slip away from you, please have a listen to this incredible song by Glen Campbell, written about his final stages of Alzheimer’s. It has just recently been released, and will be Glen Campbell’s final song.
I think it’s his best song.
This music is just far too powerful and heart-reaching to not share. I’m sure we all can relate to how it feels to lose someone.
I’m Not Gonna Miss You
— a heart-wrenching description of Alzheimer’s Disease , grief, loss, and passing.
So beautifully but painfully intense.
I realize that most of the readers of this blog are not here to hear about Alzheimer’s . However, many of the mental health diseases and the long term effects of trauma can steal people away from each other. Or prevent relationships. Or interfere with relationships. Or end relationships. Or block feelings. Or block emotional connections. Or create distance between people.
You might understand a whole lot about how this feels.
And you’ve probably experienced loss in your life.
It hurts.
I hope this song brings comfort to your pain.
Warmly,
Kathy
Copyright © 2008-2020 Kathy Broady MSW and Discussing Dissociation
So beautifully said DD. Your statement – “I love who we are growing into” – just so poignant and sweet. I have learned that family does not reside in our DNA – it is in our hearts, our souls and our minds that are treasured, nurtured and inspired by the folks that we choose as our family. Thank you for sharing DD and reminding me of that fundamental step to healing.
The more I heal and become my true self, I have found within my disfunctional family anger and disapproval of who I am becoming. They want the old daughter and sister back they tell me. I cannot nor do I want to return back to the person they controlled and abused. That is not the person that I am today. Today I am in control and no one is allowed to abuse me again. It took a long time to see my true family and to separate from them. Now we cannot be with them and they do not want to be with me, for all the right reasons.
So healing can create lost, Hugh change and acceptance that many my not be able to accept. I love who we are growing into and that’s is worth saying, “I am not going to miss you”. Let go and move forward.
We are affected by this in a huge way in our family right now. It is so emotionally draining on everyone and hard to face.
That mans bruver gots this to
Seeing people you love slowly evolve into individuals you no longer recognize is difficult. Your heart remembers the laughter, the joy, the moments of inspiration, the teasing, memories being created or shared, supportive gestures , and the sharing of thoughts, feelings, and dreams. The reality of losing these precious moments you once shared causes indescribable pain. What is important to remember is both of you are dealing with losses. Each of you need the compassion and kindness of others and both of you still need each other, but in different ways. It is love that will help you through the hardships to come and God’s help to give you the strength to see it through.
Our mother in law had alzheimers for all the years we knew her. We moved her to where we live to keep an eye on her, but once she got into the nursing home, she went downhill fast, even when we tried switching her to better homes and getting her better treatment. It was heartbreaking. It was actually a relief when she passed away because it was so hard to lose her bit by bit.
That song is incredibly beautiful and powerful.
Personally, I consider Alzheimer’s to be in the same category as mental illness. It seems like an intense, extreme case of all of them combined. Everything that can go wrong inside the brain and mind can, and does. It is devastating to the person who experiences it and the people who witness it.
My heart goes out to anyone who’s life has been affected by this cruel disease.