...and that could be rougher than your 'rough nite'

I shake my head almost every time that I read the Alzheimer's message board. Today, for instance, a woman posted a thread titled "rough nite." Wondering what she should do. Because her mom went nuts last night. Shouted profanities. Looked herself in the mirror. Talked to her image. Pounded on the mirror.

Here's the advice I gave the woman:

Obviously, your mom is in need of professional help. A doctor. A neurologist. A psychiatrist. Someone. If your mom was having a heart attack or a stroke or any other serious physical malady, you'd call '911' and get her help pronto. So when she's having a mental breakdown, why do you hesitate? I don't get it. Your mom goes berserk, and you don't know what to do? Well, you get help. Professional help. From people trained to deal with such situations. You plug mom into the health care system, and you try to get the problem fixed. And if the health care system can't fix the problem -- well, then you start working to get the health care system fixed. And yes, you may very well have to do that...and that could be rougher than your 'rough nite.' --Jim