Additional Information
Book Details
Abstract
What does a dementia diagnosis mean for an individual's sense of self? Christine Bryden shares her insider view on living with dementia and explains how a continuing sense of self is possible after diagnosis and as the condition develops.
Encouraging a deeper understanding of how individuals live meaningfully with dementia, the book challenges the dominant story of people with dementia 'fading away' to eventually become an 'empty shell'. It explores what it means to be an embodied self with feelings and emotions, how individuals can relate to others despite cognitive changes and challenges to communications, and what this means for the inclusion of people with dementia in society.
Christine Bryden was diagnosed with dementia in 1995 and since then has become the foremost dementia advocate, speaking at national and international conferences and campaigning for self-advocacy. She lives in Brisbane, Australia.
Table of Contents
| Section Title | Page | Action | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| WILL I STILL BE ME? | 5 | ||
| Contents | 7 | ||
| Acknowledgements | 9 | ||
| Preface | 11 | ||
| Chapter 1 - Am I Losing My Self? | 15 | ||
| Chapter 2 - Re-interpreted and Re-packaged at Diagnosis! | 19 | ||
| Chapter 3 - How Can I Write a Book? | 27 | ||
| How can I overcome cognitive difficulties? | 31 | ||
| How can I find meaning? | 34 | ||
| Why the idea of loss of self impacted negatively on me | 37 | ||
| Chapter 4 - Challenging Loss of Self in Dementia | 43 | ||
| Chapter 5 - ‘I Who Know That I Exist Inquire Into What I Am’ | 51 | ||
| Chapter 6 - Embodied Self | 59 | ||
| Scientific views of embodiment | 63 | ||
| Scientific views of recall dysfunction | 66 | ||
| Philosophical views of embodiment | 68 | ||
| Retention of embodied virtues | 71 | ||
| Chapter 7 - Relational self | 75 | ||
| Relating to what gives us a sense of meaning | 78 | ||
| Relating from birth | 81 | ||
| Capacities for relationship | 84 | ||
| Chapter 8 - Narrative self | 95 | ||
| Recall and narrative | 97 | ||
| Language and narrative | 99 | ||
| Present moment and narrative | 100 | ||
| Chapter 9 - Upheld by Others in the Fullness of Our Identity | 103 | ||
| We need to be supported in an inclusive community of equals | 106 | ||
| How can the community support and include us? | 109 | ||
| Chapter 10 - Who Am I Now If I No Longer Have Dementia? | 115 | ||
| Conclusion | 119 | ||
| References | 131 | ||
| Index | 139 | ||
| Blank Page |