Richard, Davit
Denial of the reality of mental illness is at the root of people not accepting non-physical illnesses, since our ills are not as visible...but eventually dementia affects anybody living long enough. Guy stated how he described his condition to someone by relating it to diabetes earlier. He was clever, since he built on the person's gradual acceptance from a physical to a mental illness, using an analogy!
After Guy’s story, I realized that a collegue at work had done the same with me, with a twist. That colleague had gone on stress leave, but told me he’d had the same physical major surgery I’d had, so I could “connect” with him. I guess he didn’t think I would accept his need to be away for an emotional vs physical illness.
Even I was in denial,but it took me years to realize this.
We have our limits, I suppose...like that serenity prayer.