Relaxation
Caring for a person with dementia Alzheimer’s disease or dementia (Alzheimer’s disease or dementia) at home is a difficult task and can become overwhelming at times.
With all these things going on, you may need something to calm your stress and tension right here and now.
Visualization
Although Visualization technique is not necessarily one that you can do any time or anywhere, the most practical place to use this technique is in a quiet setting where you won’t be interrupted, such as in bed before you go to sleep or somewhere you can lay or sit down during your lunch break. By doing this, you are essentially allowing yourself a “time out” from the daily chaos around you.
Example: The Hot Air Balloon
For this next exercise, please make yourself as comfortable as possible and use the following “Sample Scenario” to create your own personal “time out.” When you finish reading it, close your eyes so you can’t see the light or other people and won’t be distracted by what’s going on around you. Try to replay the instructions on finding your “personal place” in your mind.
Sample Scenario
Now breathe deeply, and imagine that you are in a deflated hot air balloon that, with every deep breath you take, you are gradually filling with air to ride to a very special place. Inhale deeply again, and exhale…exhale…continue breathing deeply…nice and slow…always filling up the bottom of your lungs and then exhaling…
Try to sense where your body is most tense. Make yourself as comfortable as possible. Relax the tension in your neck, shoulders, arms, back, legs, and feet…Keep breathing deeply and exhale.
Keep your eyes closed and enjoy the peaceful imaginary view. It looks like your hot air balloon has filled…Now imagine that you’re searching for the most safe and peaceful place you know…Are you searching for it indoors or outdoors? When you find it, look at it closely. What’s it like? Use all of your senses to enjoy it as much as possible. What’s around you? What colors do you see? What smells do you notice?
What sounds do you hear? Do you hear the chirping of birds? Or are you on the beach and hear the calls of the seagulls and the crashing of the waves? Or maybe you’re listening to the pleasant sounds of the river current.
Can you make out the breeze moving through the branches of the trees? Perhaps you’re experiencing the silence of a mountain peak. Pay attention to the colors. Are they bright? … The sounds, are they loud or soft? …
What sensations do you feel? Is it warm out or do you feel cold? … Do you like being here alone? Look closely at your place, enjoy it, and know you are in peace...(pause for a few minutes)…
When you’ve taken in the scenery and had a chance to relax, you’ll need to come back from your peaceful place, knowing that you can always go back just by closing your eyes…and by breathing deeply three times…
Slowly leave your place and focus all of your attention on your breathing. Little by little you will leave your place and tell yourself that you can always return to this place just by closing your eyes and breathing deeply three times.
Count in your head from 3 to 1, and when you reach 1, you will come back to the room. When you get to 1, you’ll be alert, refreshed, and comfortable.
The key to this exercise is to be able to come to this very special place all by yourself, whenever you want.
Alzheimer's Assn.