She lives anxiously and full of fears. How can I calm her down?

My mum is always on top of me, asks a thousand times if everything is alright, is afraid of being alone and of things that never scared her before. What's going on?

Imagine waking up in a place you don't quite recognise, not knowing what day it is, with memories that appear and disappear. The anxiety of someone with dementia is an understandable response to a world that has ceased to be predictable. The person is not 'exaggerating' — they are trying to feel safe.

Restoring predictability

Routine is the best natural anxiolytic: stable schedules, the same actions in the same order, simple warnings before each change ('now we're going to have lunch'). Reduce decisions — instead of 'what do you want to wear?', offer two options. A calm environment (less noise, fewer people at the same time) makes an immediate difference.

Responding to fear, not argument

When she asks for the tenth time if everything is alright, respond to the feeling: 'Everything is fine, I'm here with you.' Touching her hand, smiling, and keeping your voice calm says more than any logical explanation. Avoid dismantling fears with rationality — it rarely works and can be humiliating.

If the anxiety is intense, constant, or comes with new agitation, speak to her GP: it's important to rule out pain, depression, medication side effects, or another treatable cause. Never give sedatives on your own initiative.