As a person living with dementia, what can you do to help gain back control after you become agitated?

• Practice deep breathing. This is very important, especially if you are not physically active because it allows oxygen to reach your brain.
• Enter a quiet place with subdued lighting, or close your eyes.
• Listen to soothing/calming or favourite music, depending on your mood and personality.
• Participate in something that will distract you.
• Try stepping back, taking a deep breath, and calming down (Count to 10).
• Share your feelings with others: I have found that the more open I am about those things that cause me to become agitated and communicate this with my children, family, and close friends, the less stress we experience.

We also ask that others help us minimize triggers and agitations. This can be done by listening to us about what we need and providing gentle assistance.

Read the Managing Triggers-By Us For Us Guide to learn about some of the triggers that people experience and the solutions that they have developed.

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Relaxation Apps and Tools

The following Apps are a few examples of online tools to help people with dementia relax and alleviate agitation. They can also help care partners to manage their own stressors.

Each App offers various features, such as guided meditations, relaxation techniques, soothing music, and nature sounds.

Unwinding by Sharecare offers help to reflect on the understandable challenges you often experience as a caregiver and learn how to work through them in healthy, productive way. In partnership with the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers (RCI). 

Headspace provides evidence-based meditation, mindfulness tools, mental health coaching, therapy, and psychiatry. Headspace helps you create life-changing habits to support your mental health and find a healthier, happier you. 

Calm offers guided meditation sessions, soothing music, and bedtime stories to help reduce stress and promote relaxation.

Simple Habit provides guided meditations and mindfulness exercises designed to fit into busy schedules and promote relaxation. 

Breathwork offers various breathing exercises and techniques to help reduce stress and anxiety and promote relaxation. 

Aura provides personalized meditation, life coaching, stories, and music to help reduce stress and improve mental well-being. 

Pzizz: Sleep, Nap, Focus: Pzizz offers customizable audio tracks for sleep, relaxation, and focus using clinically proven techniques. 

More Learning Resources

Managing Triggers - By Us For Us Guide

A Handbook for Care

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