Well this day which started out on such a positive and uplifting start, turned rather quickly this afternoon. I was just finished on a zoom meeting at 2 pm when I headed out to go to Dr. Peter Henley Office, to deliver a book to him. He has been a great support and wanted a copy of the book. I was not even a full block from home sitting at the stop sign waiting for traffic to clear when out of no where one of our well known bicycle people in town, no helmet, they are running in and out of traffic constantly, ran into the rear passenger side of my car sending her careening to the drivers side of my car onto the pavement, I threw my car into park, she laid there dazed and confused, I called 911, suddenly out of no where a guy appeared had her at the side of the walkway, she wanted to leave I said no, you could tell her arm and leg were injured I was worried about head injury, she didn’t want police involved, she didn’t want paramedics, fire arrived first ambulance next, then police, she kept refusing help, the fellow had suddenly became her husband, then well no someone she was seeing, she still refused help, kept telling police, she knew she was 100% at fault, told fire and ambulance same thing, kept saying I’ll pay for damages, finally they got her name and phone number ( very likely false), said she had no ID, still refusing help, hanging onto her pack back for dear life. Police took pictures of damage to my car, the fellow and his wife who were driving by at the time, came back around gave their names for witnesses, I couldn’t pull out at the time because they were coming into the intersection, so they saw it all, this all took a very long time, police were very kind asking and making sure I was alright, they wrote the police file number and all information for me, I then spent 1/2 on the phone with ICBC, I will have to pay my own deductible because they likely won’t be able to get money from the bicycle person, my appointment to have them look at my car is next Friday the 11th, I eventually feeling 100% frazzled get the book to Dr. Henley, back home, I’m sitting trying to deal with the immense headache this has caused, an email comes saying my amazon package has been delivered except, I don’t have it, on the phone with the delivery company, oh he delivered it to the wrong place, they will try to retrieve it, if not amazon will replace it,, my head is pounding. I want to go back to the early part of the day, where I did a great zoom with Emma and Diana allowing them to interview me for a research project and then a lovely visit from my physiotherapist, a great coffee and catch up. And then the day went off the rails. It’s very upsetting, you never want to see anyone hurt, police were very reassuring, but it still unnerves you. I’m totally u settled at the moment. Hoping this doesn’t trigger an event and effect me and m6 dementia partner, we’ve been humming along so nicely for a few weeks. Today I feel like crying.
Category: Stress
I haven’t had a haircut since late January or early February. I’m scheduled to have a haircut this morning. I’m amazed at the anxiety this one seemingly small event has caused me the last few days. I don’t normally deal with anxiety but this has definitely created it. Along.
With lightening bolts blasting through my brain again for the last several days, and today it’s impacted my vision again, Anxiety and Stress create difficulties for people with dementia.
I’m hoping it will all settle out again after I get this darn haircut done. I’m wondering if it’s really worth what I’ve been going through though. My hair is just getting long enough to wear pulled up and back. I have been very careful since the covid 19 pandemic started, I’m not sure why the hairdresser is one thing that creates so much anxiety and other than that the pandemic has actually created some things that have made life easier for me, like special early morning shopping hour, it’s quiet, there isn’t a lot of other stimuli coming at me, the streets were quieter, less traffic, although the summer months have been extremely busy, and because by nature of the illness of dementia I live a more isolated life, I haven’t found it as difficult to manage through it as some others who are used to living on the fast turning wheel of life, since that changed with my diagnosis I live a more peaceful calm and serene life.
So covid for me has been manageable, I do all I can to protect myself, I find ways to do things I want to do in a safe manner, and sometimes we have to think outside the box to do it. I’ve spend an enormous amount of time in nature, where I thrive. And yet anxiety over load thinking about a haircut. Even that, I’ve picked a small shop where I can be first in, still anxiety prevails, I’m doing what I can to protect myself, I’ll wear my N95 mask.
Oh I’ll be glad to have this over with, I better go get ready.
Chrissy's Journey 