Developing coping strategies Taking care of yourself "I always
used to lay the table at mealtimes but I started to get mixed up
with the cutlery. So now I clear the table after the meal
instead. I think it helps a bit." (Hector) "My friends say that
I have developed a very philosophical attitude towards life. I
think that it was necessary for me in order to cope." (Janice)
Once people with dementia and carers have got over the initial
shock of learning the diagnosis and started to organise help,
they will probably find that they have already started to
develop coping strategies. People use a variety of strategies,
but as different things work for different people, it is up to
each person to find out what works best for them. On the whole,
worrying or blaming yourself doesn’t help as much as confronting
the problem or seeking information and social support Some
strategies involve trying to manipulate the situation in order
to reduce the problem or prevent it from happening in the first
place. This might includ