Alzheimer's Disease Support Group
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia and characterized by progressive cognitive deterioration with declining activities of daily living and neuropsychiatric symptoms or behavioral changes. An early symptom is memory loss (amnesia), usually manifesting as minor forgetfulness that becomes pronounced with illness progression, with relative...
I sometimes wonder just how much do the general public really understand about our illness as all they can perceive is whats actually on the surface they cant see the turmoil of our daily frustrations, disorientation, and confusions, with that in mind it made me write this poem
As an Iceberg
Dementia is like an iceberg floating slowly
over a terminal sea, but what others see of
our illness is but only ten percent of what
lays hidden deep underneath, as only a sufferer
can know the real inner truth of whats deep
within our bodies and minds, but there are
non sufferers around us who forget, and
know not what to say, as the perception of
dementia in their eyes is but what on the
surface they can see
please never make the mistake of saying,
Sometimes I feel Ive entered into your world
and Oh I know just how you must feel
Unto them Ive only a few words to say,
do you have a daily battle with body and mind?
can you feel the constant confusion in our brain?
can you feel the frustrations pulling us ever apart?
do you awake in the morn not knowing who or where you are?
and have you ever been out walking alone,
only to find you have forgotten your way home?
yes our disorientations go forever on each day,
so with respect I ask you to remember
dementia is our Iceberg but only Ten Percent you can see
Barry
As an Iceberg
Dementia is like an iceberg floating slowly
over a terminal sea, but what others see of
our illness is but only ten percent of what
lays hidden deep underneath, as only a sufferer
can know the real inner truth of whats deep
within our bodies and minds, but there are
non sufferers around us who forget, and
know not what to say, as the perception of
dementia in their eyes is but what on the
surface they can see
please never make the mistake of saying,
Sometimes I feel Ive entered into your world
and Oh I know just how you must feel
Unto them Ive only a few words to say,
do you have a daily battle with body and mind?
can you feel the constant confusion in our brain?
can you feel the frustrations pulling us ever apart?
do you awake in the morn not knowing who or where you are?
and have you ever been out walking alone,
only to find you have forgotten your way home?
yes our disorientations go forever on each day,
so with respect I ask you to remember
dementia is our Iceberg but only Ten Percent you can see
Barry
Thank you for sharing. You are a wonderful man!
Many thanks for your reply and sharing your husbands own experiences unfortunately some people can still be extremely insensitive towards people who have any type of dementia which to my mind just goes to show how little they know about the illness and the fact that we are still the same person inside We have just become forgetful in fact I now have a motto I often use
People with dementia might forget what you said
People with dementia might forget what you did to help them...
But people with dementia will NEVER forget
How good you make them feel
And you have made me feel good for replying
Barry
I wish I could have 10 minutes with him before Alzheimer's .. just to share some thoughts and wishes.
All I can add to that is to say that during my own none verbal moments with my dear wife when for some reason I just can not utter a word (I still know that she is there with her loving hands and voice to sooth my turmoil)
Barry
My website: http://www.simplesite.com/BarrysAlzheimers
Barry
My website: http://www.simplesite.com/BarrysAlzheimers
My books of Poems: http://www.i-proclaimbookstore.com