Aggression

“So,” she asked, trying to put it tactfully. “Is Burt ever, how do I say it, does he lash out?”

Oh, yes, that famous Lewy Body aggressivity. 

It’s why an agency felt they had to deny services. Burt is, as I like to say, performatively belligerent. Of course, he is, but he does lash out.

It’s what I expected or at least was warned to expect.

I think the aggression comes with the fears.

It’s hard  to not be afraid when you are experiencing the weird that is inherent to dementia.

In the world according to Lewy, there are strange people in your home. You’re not actually sure you are home or will ever find it. Early your symptoms are just odd enough so you realize there is something very wrong. Later you may have delusions that make life untenable. Paranoia added to the mix makes it all sort of boil over.

Burt’s hallucinations are mostly benign. I think. His delusions can be very frightening.

Burt used to like it when I showed him his picture from our outings. Today, he said, “You’re not supposed to take my pictures in there. People will come after
me.”

The loss of a logical compass to determine if the scary is likely underlines everything in bold red.

The endless fears are fought off by  defensive aggression.