Everyone loses some of their faculties and abilities as they age. The mind loses the ability to remember current happenings or recall past events. The body is not able to recover as quickly from injury, not able to move as fast as before, or is more prone to ailments, diseases and chronic conditions. The following is a personal reflection on my learning and resistance to the inevitable process of aging in mind and body - and my professional and outward efforts to help others with the same.
This writing might be a bit therapeutic as I may be somewhat obsessed by the idea of losing my mind. If it's not an obsession then it could be a fixation. In either case it's my immediate and long term self-prescribed plan of treatment to continue to write about it and to help clients and their family members through these issues without any plan to stop. If a body at rest tends to stay at rest, then if I stop writing or working as an attorney, I'm probably soon likely to find my permanent rest.
I've written over four years ago that my brother
lost his mind though accident-induced amnesia, that both my late grandmothers
lost their minds by dementia and Alzheimer's disease, and that it seems to run
in the family. I also wrote then, that my dad was not losing his mind and was
doing pretty well for his age.
Since that time my brother has regained many of his
faculties and the amnesia has dissipated, but the traumatic brain injury has
affected his ability to think normally, his ability to work has been
diminished, and he may never recover his capacity. My dad has been
affected by his diagnosed mild cognitive disorder and it has progressed so that
it's very hard for him to recollect much from the past.
My grandmother with dementia lived to 98 ½ years of
age and completely lost touch with her environment, pain, time, people –
everything. But she did form the habit of walking, a lot: day and night without
regard to anything much except for some innate notion to walk. She went from
taking many daily pills for ailments including thrombosis and high blood
pressure, to mindlessly walking herself back into physical health. Ultimately
she did not need to take medications any longer. The high blood pressure and
thrombosis were gone.
I traveled to and visited with my dad's younger
brother last weekend. At 80 years of age, my uncle
is definitely losing his mind. As opposed to my dad, ironically my
uncle remembers a lot from the past and almost nothing from the present. He
most often thought I was his brother, even though he is my godfather.
I also visited with my late lawyer grandfather's
sister-in-law. She turned 100 years old this past April. Thankfully, she
remembered me and she has not lost her mind, but at 100 years
it takes her mind a bit longer to process things.
My grandfather worked 53 years as a lawyer until he
died. He was sharp and accomplished. He did not lose his mind and his death by
stroke was sudden at 76 years of age.
I counsel people through the passing of a loved one.
I help others plan and prepare for the oncoming "mental darkness."
Sometimes I help bereaved family members litigate over a trust or an estate in
probate where the planning failed to occur or was flawed in some way. More
than "therapy," it's a common understanding; it's my enjoyment of the
work and the sense of mission and purpose to know that I can be there as a
trusts and estates attorney for a person and their family when they are vulnerable
and most in need of help.
Losing Your Mind
Losing Your Mind, Part II
Losing It
Robert S. Meyring of Meyring Law Firm offers complimentary 10 minute phone consultations at 678-217-4369 meyring@meyringfirm.com
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