Monday, August 27, 2012

The Semantics of Emotion



It seems that when people who have symptoms of dementia express very strong emotions, if they are at the stage where language is impaired, those strong emotions do something to make language magically appear.

This is something I've noticed and want to keep a record of. There must be some research in this area,  and I'm starting to look for any case studies.

In the meantime, I will keep track of those times when Val, when feeling very strong emotions, comes out with a full phrase.


Val hates getting washed up. That is one of the times where she feels most, well, violated and stripped of her dignity and independence.
At times I as Val, if you don't want to do this, would you prefer to take a shower.

I asked her that last night, she said, "No, that takes a long time!"



Perfectly clear sentence that expresses exactly what she is feeling at the time when her emotions are fired up and she is either very happy, very sad or just sick and tired of getting washed up and not being able to do it herself.
So when you say the "person" is gone. I have to start questioning that. Because once you say they are gone, then what's the point?
They are already "not there" to many family members and friends. But that's simply because, in my opinion, they are just too selfish to keep the relationship going. What was it Christ said, " If you do unto the least of these."

People with AD should not be considered the least of these, but they are. And you know what, I think they know that, and  that behavior may account for some of the aggression they display.

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