My 86 year old grandmother is normally a religious person, but the recent news reports of tornadoes, earthquakes, and explosions at the Japanese nuclear plant have made her very anxious and emotional. In the past few days, she has been associating words and phrases in the newspaper or on tv to Bible scriptures or references. This behavior is very unusual for her. It is hard to talk to her or reason with her. She insists that she isn't crazy and won't let me take her to a doctor. A friend of hers has also noticed the changes. I have no local family to help, so any advice is appreciated, thanks!
*There has been no diagnosis of Alzheimer's or Dementia, and she doesn't appear to have pain or infection.* (She has had many brain and blood tests last year, and nothing serious was found.)
However, in the last week, she has started being very agitated and anxious again. She is only on her high blood pressure medicine right now. She appears to be upset over the nuclear accident in Japan, and the spread of radiation in the environment, and also hearing of the deaths and sickness of close friends and family. She is 86 and can still do most things normally, but if she can't remember something, or can't do something, she can become upset, and anxious. Her face becomes red and I can tell her blood pressure is rising. (dangerous) I can usually calm her after a few minutes, but it takes a lot of talking calmly and trying to get her to change her thinking. This is very stressful for me, as I have my own anxiety issues and no close family to help me. I live with her, and feel like I need to be near her all the time (in case she gets upset by something). However, when I am sitting near to her, she feels watched or monitored. Then, she will say, "I'm fine, you don't need to worry about me".
She is religious, and she uses Bible words or phrases and confuses them with everyday items and situations.
Should I continue to let her read her Bible? I guess it offers her some form of comfort, but it may feed her obsessive and racing thoughts. She sometimes thinks God is asking her to do things or testing her, or even telling her it's her time (to die).
She saw a doctor today, and he gave her a prescription for Lorazepam (Ativan). .5 mg (the lowest dose) to relax her, but I have not given it to her yet. (I wanted to get some opinions on it first) Celexa made her have a choking cough.
Is there anything else I can try to get her to relax? (and myself)? I would love to try some natural things first before any more prescriptions.
Thanks for any advice.
I hope that this combination will give your grandmother relief. You sound like a wonderful granddaughter to be so involved.
Way to go beautiful Lady! ... Great tips.
Spiritually the unknown power of her faith may actually be unexplainable and really happening, and unless you are in her mind and the spirits allow you to understand you may never really know or understand. Who knows for sure?
I'll tell you a story I've told before on here.... My Mom slept downstairs in my house. When she needed me she'd call me from bottom of steps. For several days in a row she'd call me and say someones knocking. She pointed to front of the house and say over there (front door) we never used that door. I looked out saw a snow covered lawn and steps but no footprints. So I said there's noone knocking. She says " I am not crazy" I never heard it, so I was thinking... OH NO now she's hearing things!!! Then one morning I was in bed and heard a knocking sound, but on the second floor. I looked out my window and saw a woodpecker. I giggled to myself and said to Mom "I found the knocker, showed her the woodpecker" She says "I told you I wasn't crazy!"
Sometimes I don't know what is real or not in her conversations. I now just look at peace and happiness as good thing and if bad things are mentioned I pay attention to what has changed. I hope this helps!
If she is christian, tell her jesus is not going to let anything happen to her and that she can feel safe and sound knowing that he is her savior and that she will be saved.
whatever flavor of religion is hers, there is a story that will apply and if you can use that to calm her it just may work.
She may be on the road to dementia so there won't be any reasoning with her. Even if you took her to a doctor, they may miss the obvious because they will only be with her for a matter of minutes while you notice the unusual with her over an arc of time.
Tell her that you know she's not crazy and that you think she is fine but that for her to experience such anxiety over a long period is bad for her health and you want her to be around for a long long time. Tell her doctor that she may need a little med for anxiety and early stage dementia and you will be surprised what that can do for her and her well being. If her doctor doesn't listen, get a new doctor.
ok, good luck and let us know how you are progressing.
Keep coming back to this website because it is a lifesaver.
There are many experienced caregivers here and my suggestion is only one voice of many. You take a little from here and there and before you know it you just may have an answer.
lovbob