Coming to terms
Accepting a dementia diagnosis is harder than I could have ever imagined. Every day brings a new reality, unfamiliar emotions, and the quiet realization that life has shifted forever. This space is a candid, gentle look at learning to face each day with openness and vulnerability.
Navigating the shifting tides of memory
Every day feels different. Lately, I find myself forgetting more—not only the little routine details, but important things, and silly everyday moments I once believed I could never lose. The flood of emotions can feel overwhelming. My thoughts constantly circle around this diagnosis: wondering what tomorrow will look like, searching for answers, and carrying the quiet ache of wondering when the faces of my loved ones might start to fade.
Learning to open up and let others in
I notice how much I have changed. I do not joke as easily or laugh as freely as I used to, because this reality weighs heavily on my mind. For most of my life, I never showed how I felt or shared deep emotions. But facing dementia means learning to soften. It means allowing people into my world, letting family and friends hold my hand, and understanding myself on a deeper level than ever before.
If you were just diagnosed today
If you have just received this news, know that your journey is your own. Everyone processes this diagnosis differently, and every emotion you feel is valid. My advice from where I stand now: take a breath and get your life in order—your affairs, your support system, and your heart. Give yourself permission to feel, connect with the people who love you, and take this one honest step at a time.
"Get your whole life in order, get to know yourself better, and let people in. I have never been one to show how I feel, but I am learning every day."
From my personal journal