{"id":245744,"date":"2021-09-07T01:10:04","date_gmt":"2021-09-07T00:10:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.forwardwithdementia.org\/en\/?post_type=project&p=245744"},"modified":"2023-04-06T13:20:00","modified_gmt":"2023-04-06T12:20:00","slug":"2-1-your-emotional-reaction-to-the-dementia-diagnosis-being-told-someone-close-to-you-has-dementia-brings-up-strong-emotions","status":"publish","type":"project","link":"https:\/\/www.forwardwithdementia.org\/en\/article\/2-1-your-emotional-reaction-to-the-dementia-diagnosis-being-told-someone-close-to-you-has-dementia-brings-up-strong-emotions\/","title":{"rendered":"2.1 Your emotional reaction to the dementia diagnosis"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Your emotions and dementia diagnosis<\/strong><\/p>\n

Deborah described <\/span>\u2018a tidal wave of emotion\u2019<\/span><\/i>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sally\u00a0said\u00a0\u201c<\/span>it was a relief to put a name to what was happening\u201d<\/span><\/i>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Josef\u00a0felt\u00a0<\/span>\u201chis world just ended\u201d.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Cheryl said she\u00a0<\/span>\u201cimmediately felt protective of her husband and worried about his reaction\u201d.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sapna\u00a0felt\u00a0<\/span>\u201creally angry about\u00a0the\u00a0deal life had given them\u201d.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Carers often describe strong emotional reactions to being told the diagnosis, ranging from relief, to anger and fear. Many said they couldn\u2019t listen, think or do much immediately after the diagnosis, it was so overwhelming. Some found it difficult to cope with the emotions they felt. Some felt relief.\u00a0 We all react differently and all of these reactions are normal.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Your feelings are likely to change and\u00a0It\u00a0can\u00a0take time for feelings to settle down.\u00a0\u00a0If it takes more than a couple of months and you\u2019re still feeling extremely distressed about the diagnosis, it\u2019s time to get help to work through those feelings. Strong feelings can get in the way of moving forward with dementia.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Alzheimer\u2019s Association<\/span>\u00a0explains different stages of acceptance for carers<\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.10.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]

Supporting some<\/span>one with dementia can bring up difficult feeling<\/span>s<\/span><\/h4>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.13.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]

If the person with dementia was diagnosed soon after they or you noticed changes, the sense of loss, grief and worry about the future can be more disabling than the symptoms of dementia.\u00a0\u00a0Worries and feelings may stop you from taking part in, and enjoying, everyday life. Withdrawing from these activities may make your feelings worse. Keeping in touch with others and keeping your routines going may help you and the person you support.\u00a0 Read more about <\/span>Helping the person you support to keep going out and socialising with others.<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Some carers and people with dementia feel embarrassed about having dementia<\/span>. They can be reluctant to tell others about it as t<\/span>hey worry <\/span>how\u00a0<\/span>people<\/span>\u00a0will react<\/span>.\u00a0 It\u2019s important to remember dementia is a\u00a0<\/span>long term<\/span>\u00a0condition<\/span>, just like diabetes or arthritis. Dementia is not something to be ashamed or embarrassed about. Today in\u00a0<\/span>the UK<\/span>\u00a0around\u00a0<\/span><\/span>850,000\u202f<\/span><\/span>people have dementia. Almost everyone has a family member<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0or knows someone<\/span>,<\/span> living with dementia.<\/span><\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_blurb title=”Start your own dementia toolkit” image=”https:\/\/www.forwardwithdementia.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2021\/05\/right_arrow.png” icon_placement=”left” content_max_width=”100%” disabled_on=”off|off|off” admin_label=”Toolkit CTA” module_class=”add_to_tookit” _builder_version=”4.13.1″ _module_preset=”default” header_level=”h5″ header_font_size=”22px” body_font_size=”18px” body_line_height=”1.2em” background_color=”gcid-402638df-a406-4a43-897b-e6375912129b” positioning=”relative” position_origin_a=”bottom_center” width=”100%” max_width=”95%” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”15px|0px|15px|0px|false|false” link_option_url=”https:\/\/www.forwardwithdementia.org\/en\/how-to-use-your-toolkit\/” border_width_left=”10px” border_color_left=”#E40046″ global_module=”237506″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-402638df-a406-4a43-897b-e6375912129b%22:%91%22background_color%22%93}”]

Clicking here will open the toolkit information page where you can learn how to create your own dementia toolkit.<\/div>[\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.10.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]

Situations that can complicate feelings<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h4>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.13.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]

Some situations\u00a0in life\u00a0complicate\u00a0already distressing or difficult feelings about dementia. These include situations like:\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n