Monthly Archives: August 2020

Consistent with that routine that I wrote about, I have been viewing online educational material that are important in my field. One of them is Dementia. The World Health Organization defines Dementia, as “a syndrome in which there is deterioration in memory, thinking, behavior and the ability to perform everyday activities”.  Aside from Alzheimer’s Dementia, there are 3 other kinds of this condition that are not as well known:

1. Vascular Dementia – This condition results from damage to the brain due to   poor or blocked blood flow (e.g. stroke, ischemia). Unlike Alzheimer’s Dementia in which symptoms progress gradually, symptoms of vascular dementia occur abruptly and appear right after the stroke.

2. Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB) – This is a slow onset condition in which deposits in the brain, called Lewy Bodies, cause changes in the brain. These changes result in problems in the person’s ability tothink (fluctuations in concentration, attention, alertness, disorganized thinking) and move (parkinson’s symptoms) as well as changes in behavior and mood (e.g. depression, apathy, anxiety, delusions).
   
   

These changes result in problems in the person’s ability to think (fluctuations in concentration, attention, alertness, disorganized thinking) and move.

In my work assessing adults for Dementia, I have encountered about 3 whose differential diagnosis included DLB. The most distinguishing symptoms for me are the clients’ problems with movement. Such symptoms include muscle rigidity, slowed movement, shuffling walk, tremors (mostly at rest) and balance problems. One client I had reported having hallucinations, another symptom of this condition. Dementia with Lewy Bodies recently caught the attention of many people because Robin Williams, a popular actor/comedian (of the Mork & Mindy, Mrs. Doubtfire fame), suffered from it before he committed suicide.

Surviving prolonged lockdown or the current restrictions of this pandemic has been a challenge. Anxiety and depression have become more of challenges for many of my clients in my counseling practice.

1. The first thing we need to do is to understand that an unusual situation, the pandemic, is happening right how for which we have limited control.
2. We need to accept the situation, be kind to ourselves and adapt to the situation. 
3. This means observing the guidelines set & disseminated by many sources regarding frequent hand washing, mask wearing, social distancing and limiting ones exposure (no unnecessary trips).
4. One way to manage or minimize these feelings is to keep a routine so that one continues to feel grounded and on top of things. This involves:

1. Waking up and sleeping more or less the same time every day,
   
   

2. If working at home, do it at about the same time each day, e.g. in the mornings say 9am to 12nn. Or maybe 2hours in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon (depending on the nature of your work)
   
   

3. Aside from work, one can also go online and choose YouTube videos that are educational and will enhance your current skills. Perhaps 2-3 hours most days of the week could be set aside for this.
   
   

4. Spending more time with family by having more lunch/dinner/before bedtime conversations, playing games with your children, organizing home projects such as cleaning your storerooms, garage and so on.
   
   

5. Exercising regularly is very important. Walking and cycling are great   exercises for your heart and doing weights and yoga exercises are great for toning, strengthening and balance. Again this can be done 20-30 minutes most days of the week.
   
   

If you have not already done so, go ahead and make and follow that routine! I guarantee you that you will feel better and less vulnerable to negative thoughts and feelings that do not help you anyway!