What Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro Taught Me About Alzheimer's

by Bev Janisch

In January 2013 I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa. I knew it would be a challenge that would test both my physical and mental strength. I was a bit daunted by the fact that I could prepare for the physical challenge but wasn't really sure how to prepare for the mental challenge.  The whole experience was outside my comfort zone and at some level I knew I needed to grow spiritually, and this might just create the catalyst that I needed.

The change happened in the months following the trip when I started doing some soul searching.  I began to realize that the preparation for the climb and the actual climb provided a framework for how a person could face challenges in their life.   I believe that all the small challenges in our lives are often there to prepare us for the bigger ones. There is no doubt that Alzheimer's disease is a large challenge.

The process of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro taught me some valuable lessons that could be applied to the journey of Alzheimer's disease:

1) Do your homework and prepare for the climb by arming yourself with information.

Understand as much as you can about the disease and the nature of Alzheimer's disease and dementia. The more you understand, the more tools you will have to respond in compassionate ways to both yourself and the person with the disease.

2) Don't look at the whole mountain or you'll undoubtedly get overwhelmed.

Take it one step at a time and one moment at a time.  If you think about a continual string of "what if's......" the result is despair, anxiety and worry. Most of the time the things we worry about aren't even the things that actually happen. So developing an attitude of dealing with things as they come is healthy and more peaceful.

3) Assemble a good support team.

Connect with as many people as you can about the experience.  Put an intention out to the universe that you want to go through this experience with others who can support you and you them.

4) Once the preparing is done and the team is in place, let go of the need to control everything and go with the flow.

Letting go of control is very freeing and powerful. It applies to Alzheimer's disease, but also to many areas in our life where control is just an illusion. Alzheimer's and dementia creates the perfect opportunity to learn to let go of those things we have no control over!

What other thoughts or words of support do you have for people experiencing Alzheimer's and dementia?