My Mom’s Alzheimer’s Led Me to a Dark Place. These 6 Words Saved Me
I stepped off the curb and was almost struck by a car, which honked at me and came to a screeching halt. "I wish I'd been hit," I thought.
The author's mother was admitted to the hospital ER in November 2023 due to erratic behavior and suspected signs of dementia. The doctors informed the author that the mother's elevated acetaminophen levels were not dangerous, and she passed psychiatric and cognitive tests. However, the author pleaded to redo the tests, fearing her mother's condition was worsening.
After weeks of intensive caregiving, cleaning her mother's apartment, managing finances, and finding full-time care, the author experienced debilitating anxiety and depressive symptoms, including suicidal thoughts. One morning after the ER visit, while crossing the street, the author nearly got hit by a car and had intense thoughts of harming herself.
A therapist offered six words of encouragement: "There will be a path forward." This phrase provided solace and reminded the author that, despite the overwhelming challenges, a solution would eventually emerge.
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