JOAN’S BLOG – WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2008 – ALZHEIMER SPOUSES IN THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS

I have been dragged down into the dumps these last few days, and have been so emotionally spent, that I need to lighten the mood a bit. As you know, it is NEVER my intention to offend anyone, so I hope you will take this Blog as it was meant – a little humor to ease the tension.
 
Who remembers Jacqueline Susann’s blockbuster book from the 1960’s – The Valley of the Dolls? It was about sex, drugs, and show business. Great escapism, if you’re in the mood for a good trashy romance. Apparently, it has become popular again. You may be wondering what this has to do with Alzheimer’s Disease. Read on.

The “dolls” in question were pills – all colors; all kinds; uppers; downers; sleepers; waker-uppers. First, let me be absolutely clear – I am NOT AGAINST taking anti-depressants when needed, and honestly, who needs them more than spouses of Alzheimer patients?  But a gathering of Alzheimer spouses can sometimes be akin to have fallen into the “Valley of the Dolls”. Take an accounting, and hands raise – “I’m on Paxil”; “Lexipro here”; “Prozac does the trick for me”; “Wellbutrin here”; “Nothing bothers me when I have my Zoloft.”

In the world of the Alzheimer spouse, the Valley dwellers are not secretive whisperers in back alleys. They are loud and proud. Get yourself on anti-depressants and start smiling your way through this journey through Hell. Or even better, get your AD spouse on an anti-depressant or a heavy duty tranquilizer, and the emotional abuse, which is fueled by anger and depression, will subside. In which case, YOU won’t need the dolls.

So I have been advised to get thee spouse to the doctor pronto for an anti-depressant; and either get one for myself, or start taking the little white dolls (Xanax)  that have already been prescribed for me. And to take them regularly, not when I’m ready to explode, which is when I usually reach for one.

Maybe my perspective is a little skewed, but it seems to me there is something seriously wrong somewhere when a disease is so toxic that the one who DOESN’T suffer from it, has to take anti-depressants to live through it.

Paul Newman funds a camp for seriously ill children. I think someone should start a camp for our AD spouses. Let’s send them all to AD camp for 2 weeks in the summer, so we can have a vacation from the “dolls” that are needed to keep us going. Anyone know any celebrities who want to fund such a camp? Angelina? Brad? Anyone out there in Tinseltown listening? Sounds like a good idea to me.

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