It's weird to me when someone remarks on one of my mom's dementia-related behaviors & they act amazed.
I mean, I think it isn't an act, I think it actually *does* amaze them, I'm just puzzled as to why.
It's kind of like...
Them: Your mom just did this totally random senseless thing! WTF?
Me: ...uh, yeah? That happens all the time.
Them: Well yeah but she does/did *this*! <insert incredulity here>
Me: The fuck do you think dementia *is*??
It's worst with my dad, who I suspect is simply too close to the situation. I mean my mom is his *wife* of 55 years, it's like they're not going to see the forest for the trees, when it comes to each other.
Plus my mom's trees are scrambled now, so there's that.
It's easy to forget, or maybe not ever really become aware of the fact that if you change your brain, your mind & behavior change.
Like if you use some sort of drug, or throw too much or not enough glucose in there, o r get drunk, or take a prescription Rx, or have a brain injury, or go thru therapy - these all change your *brain*.
What we think of as *will* is an aspect of executive function, & it's reeeeeeallly easy to fuck up someone's exec. function.
I mean, try not sleeping for several days, that'll do it too.
No point to all this, just thinking out uh... loud. Sort of. Firehosing out loud.
& really, I think most ppl aren't that great at separating mind & behavior from intentional will.
Like the will to do something. I'm in the US & there's very much this cultural & social belief that when people do things, it's always on purpose, always with some kind of intent (often nefarious), & that you can do anything thru sheer force of will.