My Life as a... Book?!?

[akira96]

So... within the span of 24 hours, I've had two of my closest friends compare to me to a pair of long-suffering, female literary figures.

WTF?!?

The first allusion was made by my Korea-based BFF 

Comments

[mrdreamjeans]

First, let's wish for new chapters for your book, ones that show a turnaround in your work situation and that you get help with the caregiving of your folks. I see so much of my own story in this post, though it flip flops in terms of gender. In reading your mom's symptoms, one thought occurred ... My Dad has dementia, but the main item that affects his mood swings is diabetes. Does your mother have diabetes? Irritability is one of the symptoms for dementia/Alzheimers, but Dad's "mean" days occur when there's an extreme swing high ... or low ... with his blood sugar.

You have my support as you work your way through the book.

[akira96]

Thanks you. I know I'm not the first, or the only person currently dealing w/ these myriad issues rigt now-- I think I can count a couple of mutual LJ buddies w/ similar scenarios-- but it's still hard dealing w/ them, and harder still to even write about them. But, yes... my Mom does have a form of diabetes that happens a known side-effect of anti-rejection meds (she happens to ALSO be a heart-transplant patient.) My Father and I do keep a fairly-close eye on her diabetes, but perhaps this might be a possible explanation for increaslingly erratic and volatile behavior...

[mrdreamjeans]

I do understand how hard it is .. a couple of years ago, it nearly did me in. The support I found from my friends here on LJ helped me get through it. I didn't feel as isolated or judged. I know I was a broken record about it, but writing about it also helped me release some of my anger. Dad was calling me the ugliest names he could think of, I was hit or threatened daily. There was no way to retaliate that wasn't abusive. Everyone told me not to take it personally, but in the moment it was intensely personal. My relationship with my Dad is guarded. I can't trust who he's become. I've done better recently because I decided there was nothing I could do to make him better; I had to be in the moment and accept who he's become. I admire your courage in taking on this caregiving role. Please don't be afraid to reach out, to vent, if you need to.

Big HUGS!