Final tribute to caregivers

This week is my final tribute to Caregivers. One very positive factor that has come out of this series is an invitation I have received to speak to a support group for persons caring for Alzheimer’s’ patients. I will share more about that in the future. The feedback I receive helps me to stay current and abreast of issues faced by readers. As I bring this series to a close, I want to share one fact that stood out with me as I spoke to persons caring for loved ones. One daughter shared that her parent’s personality and social choices while she was well and able to live independently, made adjusting to assisted living much more difficult. What is your personality? Are you a loner? Very social? Optimistic? Pessimistic? It seems that her parent did not have very many friends and as such is having difficulty being in a group situation. Thus it seems to mean that we are indirectly getting ready for our latter years even without knowing it. Shall we begin to think about our latter years not just in terms of financial or medical terms but in regard to our ability to adjust and embrace new interactions? I would enjoy hearing your ideas. My friend Marcia, who is also single, and I have talked about living together in our latter years. We are very different, but we know that we will need more support as we grow older. What’s your plan for the changes brought about by aging? Please contact me at 864-888-7310 or Professional Counseling Lead Intern Mrs. Erin Holtzclaw at 864-723-4079 to share your plan. I am sure others would like ideas about adjusting to changes in the latter adult years.

Dear Dr. King:

My 7 year old seems somewhat unstable. He lashes out at the slightest provocation and sulks for hours. I am worried that he is bipolar, but I thought was an adult disorder.

—A.M., Clemson

Dear A.M.:

Mood disorders may point to a chemical imbalance and or neurological problems and persons of any age could be affected. Was your child premature? Exposed to toxins before, during and or after birth? Dropped or shaken? Emotionally traumatized as a victim or witness to a tragic event? Look back over his health history, think very hard to develop a timeline of events and share your concerns with your pediatrician. Help him before he starts having more serious problems at home and at school.

Dr. Debra A King is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Professional Counselor Supervisor in the Upstate. You may reach her at mailto:askdrdebraking@aol.com or askdrdebraking@aol.com.