
I feel sad around the holidays because I can't stop thinking about how things were before my loved one developed Alzheimer's disease. How can I bring back the joy of the holidays?
Many people enter the holiday season with a mixed bag of memories and emotions. Rituals, familiar food and smells, songs, and decorations all stimulate memories of people and holidays past. The season may loom particularly heavy if you have a loved one living with Alzheimer's disease. It's common to think about what has changed and yearn for the way things used to be.
It is important to realize that how you feel is a byproduct of your thoughts, and caregivers may be especially susceptible to unhelpful thought patterns during the holidays. While you can't control many of the realities of Alzheimer's, you can control your thoughts.
One way to help cope with your grief is through mindfulness. Mindfulness is the practice of intentionally bringing one's attention to the present moment and has been found to produce significant results in terms of stress reduction and overall well-being. Research has found that practicing mindfulness helps caregivers of loved ones with dementia improve feelings of depression, stress and overall quality of life in terms of their mental health.
Mindfulness practices help create some separation between unhelpful thoughts and your life in the moment. Think of it as refueling your caring center.
These steps can help you be more mindful and enjoy the holiday season:
Plan a holiday that your loved one with Alzheimer's can enjoy:
This article is written by Angela Lunde and Mayo Clinic staff. Find more health and medical information on mayoclinic.org.
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