Are crying jags normal?

The "I wish I were dead" comment is enough to make the doctor reconsider either a dosage change or a medication change.
Is it also possible to get your husband to see a therapist that he can talk to?
You might even want to contact the Alzheimer's Association and find out if there are any Support Groups FOR people with dementia not the caregivers or spouses.

Try this the next time he starts to cry...
Give him a hug. Rub his back and tell him that he is alright, he is safe and that you love him.
Don't ask if you have said anything or done anything to upset him. (if you did he might not even remember and he may be reacting to something you said an hour ago or a day ago.)

The gentle nudge while gentle to you might seem like another..."I did something wrong" comment and that can hurt more if he is in a heightened emotional state. Let as much go as you can. Pick your battles. Don't buy chocolate get something that is safer for the dog. And if possible keep a jar of dog treats near him so he can give the dog a treat. (and if he over does it make the treats green beans, or baby carrots or cut the amount of food the dog gets and use the kibble as the treats)

I should add...Is your husband a Veteran? If so the VA might be able to help. When you call one of the first things they ask on the recorded message is if this is a crisis situation...
The VA can be of great help later on in this journey as well.

Can I recommend a magnesium supplement and a b complex. It really helps with frayed nerves.

Is it possible to give him safe treats for the dog? I always keep things my girl can safely eat for my mom to give her, otherwise I am dealing with a sick puppy and I can not get my mom to stop. She equates love and food, so I don't want to be angry with her, but I don't want her to kill my dog.

Sometimes we have to offer solutions and never say that's not okay. Especially when they are feeling very sensitive. This quarantine is starting to get everyone down. So find things that he can feel a win about. New treats to teach the dog how to do a new trick or something he can accomplish and get a well done from you.

Thanks for the replies. I'll ask his MD to up his Rx for antidepressants. He also experiences a lot of pain that makes him want to die. But I know he would never do himself in," I think he just wants me to know it's that bad. Once he's done crying, he seems to perk up emotionally.  just wondered if it was a symptom of dementia to cry for no reason so often.

Actually he has good reason to cry. Having dementia would make anyone cry when they have a second of clarity.

Jag?

Its part of the desease. He probably doesn't even know why he does it. It could also manifest itself in anger or laughter. His Dementia has probably hit the part of his brain where his emotions are being effected. If MD you mean a general practitioner I would suggest a Neurologist or a Psychiatrist versed in Dementa's. I personally don't feel GPs are qualified to care for Dementia patients when it comes medications.

Take your husband to see a Neurologist that specializes in dementia! Then the Neuro can help you figure out what is Really going on and get your husband the help he needs.

Best of luck!

The Neurologist told me that the area of the brain that experience emotion are not the same area that interpret emotion. My mom was telling me I'm so scared, or she was upset, but couldn't tell me why. She has mixed dementia both vascular and Alzheimer's, so I guess the brain issues were more in the processing area. She is on Zoloft, but just a moderate dose. It seemed to help a little. But she was always a worrier.

These are often due to strokes; check with your doc.

I would hide the chocolate, it could make your dog very sick, i think crying jags are normal, my mother would do the same thing. It was hard to witness that. It passes. I never knew why she would cry, I don't even know if she knew. I would put my arm around her and tell her it was ok. Eventually she would stop.

Would it also help to write up a "do and don't" list that would help him to remember such things (in addition to having dog treats near by rather than chocolate)?

Does your husband have dementia? If so, remember that people with dementia can do strange things; they can't help it. Their minds are becoming 'unwired.' Some people don't realize that they have dementia. When my mother moved into her memory care facility they told us to take away all sharp objects (knives, scissors, etc.) and gave me other tips on how to make the space safe for her. I am not a believer that lists and notes will work for people. At my mother's facility when she wasn't disposing of her Depends properly they put a note in the bathroom by the toilet, but she didn't read the note or maybe didn't understand what she was reading.

I would be very concerned. May be depression or something else. Keep updating his doctor. Is a medication change in order? How long has he been on his present meds. So sorry I know this is very frightening. Ask about him seeing a therapist. Some people with dementia can take melatonin also.

Please get a referral to a neurologist or psychiatrist that specializes in geriatrics. Your husband is either having difficulties with coping or an area of the brain is impacted - maybe dementia-related or something else.

In the meantime, he needs a lot of encouragement and supervision. Consider walking through the home and moving dangerous substances (like the chocolate) out of your husband's way.

Sis has LBD. Moved her 3 times in last year to appropriate and best community we could find-last one was simply awful in spite of a "good" reputation. Sis had been hospitalized for total med evaluation just prior to her previous facility-the awful one. Hospital stay removed some meds and added others. Sis had become very agitated at first community-I felt we were not going to arrive at a lasting solution if I just kept taking her to ER every time she had a meltdown-was not an option.

At the awful place, a few months in she began to cry.I called it whimpering-she would cry for a few mins when I arrived, but i could easily distract with a walk, helping her put on a clean outfit, giving her a snack I brought with me etc. A couple months after whimpering started, i get calls from staff telling me sis is crying all the time-they want to increase meds. We tried increase, then change to new med, but amount of crying did not really change according to the staff. Thankfully we finally get to the current/good place 3 months ago-BIG changes for sis. Not surprised crying really did increase plus I can not see her in person, hugs, etc. is not helping sis adjust. Sometimes Sis would cry a little when we would have our "window" visit-I am outside with a phone-sis is inside with a phone-at least we can see each other. She still does not understand why we can't be together at all.

About a month ago, I can hear sis crying loudly in the background when i call to see how she is doing. They change her meds again-take away one she had been on and added 3 more psychotropic drugs-took a while but things were much better for about 2 weeks. Now she is crying loudly all over again. They have added another drug, but now she has a rash all over she is scratching and making the bumps bleed-saw the bumps this past weekend with the "window" visit. I ask the aid-she tells me the bumps flare up when Sis is agitated...not sure i believe that, other nurse said the creme etc. they were putting on sis for the rash had gotten rid of the rash mostly.....not really believing that either. One of the new meds can have rash as side effect. I mention maybe new drug is causing rash, to the nurse manager as maybe this is the reason-nurse manager says no that sis had the rash when she came there......i don't know what is going on for sure-i had not been able to see sis in person just before the move due to corona-but the last place was not treating for rash at the time.

now testing for UTI. I run all the changes recommended by sis Neurologist-i am uncomfortable making med decisions by myself-don't want sis to be over medicated or to have conflicts with other needed drugs she is taking for Parkinsons, BP , depression etc. Sis has said things trying to express her sadness frustration with her not "being herself" is understandable as she is not the woman she was a few years ago. She can not begin to understand the disease and what is happening-no one has control of the disease or can stop it. Sis does not understand a pandemic going on either. I cry too knowing the disease is progressing and nothing i can do to change that.

I had previously seen TV ads describing pseudobulbar affect. I am NOT a doctor, so I'm just suggesting that maybe you should check out this possibility.

MargaretMcKen...Other sources that might be easier to get than the banana..
Leafy Greens, Beans, Nuts, Fish, Potato with skin on are all good sources of Magnesium
I would check with the doctor first there are conditions where you should be more cautious about adding magnesium supplements. Heart conditions, Kidney problems, Bowel Obstruction and others.
There are conditions that deplete magnesium. Chron's, Celiac, type 2 Diabetes and chronic diarrhea.
Best to talk to your doctor before adding any supplements if you have preexisting conditions.

Talk with your husbands doctor.  Time for a med change.

Definitely depression and his medication is not suiting him. He needs a review.

Please try CBD pil.
1000 mg under the tongue.
Can not tell you the difference it makes after 20 minutes.
Can not overdose, mb o side effects

My mom had crying jags, actually hysterics at times, on an off for the last several months of her life. Dementia had affected the emotional part of the brain and she had no control over the tears. When I asked her why she was crying, she said she didn't know. Her words, "Water just comes out." Distraction would usually help. As things progressed meds did alleviate some of that. I felt so helpless and sad to see her in such a state, but this was part of her journey and part of mine to observe.

Sounds like the beginnings of dementia. How old is he now? Do you both go for walks 2 or 3 times a week? Antidepressants do not work, they sometimes exacerbate the problems which usually stem from not enough exercise and a poor diet. Get rid of the chocolate. Walk that dog. Eat brown rice made with an extra cup of water to make it nice and digestible and mushy -- put it in chicken soup or vegetable soup-- get the good soup from the supermarket healthfood section. YES, you need to face the problem not concern yourself with carpet cleaning... HOW long has the doc had him on the pills ? Go get a second opinion. Perhaps from a wholistic doctor. Doctors are so ambivalent about covering over a problem with pills... help your husband or see him end up in an assisted living facility full of CNAs who are up to their ears in patients who are in the same helpless shape your husband is headed for. Good luck, God bless--- OH-- that's another thing-- take him to church where the praise and worship music will lift his SOUL way up and many other people will give him a testimony or two about getting free from anxiety the scriptural way-- Philippians 4: 4-8--- check out the PEACE that no one can explain-- it just is when you are thankful in spite of everything that is going on and also when you remember your blessings-- like food on the table, a roof over your head, a car to get you places, a church family to enjoy, and of course children and grandchildren. All this is the best therapy. As powerful a sunlight -- that's another thing-- he may need vitamin D... and vitamin B for the nerves-- a lot of meds these days even destroy or hamper vitamin absorption. Fresh fruit in yogurt is sooo good for you. Blueberries and strawberries in strawberry yogurt ! if he needs it sweeter, add wild flower honey ! Good luck, God Bless.

Please define jag, I do not know this term

somtimer...Just noticed you are in Alaska. Could it also be possible that this might have been caused by extended light deprived conditions. I realize you're now having more light than several months ago but if this started when you had less daylight that might be a reason. If so it should be getting better, unless the length of daylight messes with his circadian rhythm as much as the lack of it.

I don't know about normal but when my mother was in the nursing facility, she went through a horrible crying spell. Mom was diagnosed with advanced vasc. dementia/alzheimers. Her crying was constant with little reprieve inbetween. There seemed no external cause, she just sobbed.
I asked her doctor if it could be the meds which they said no. So I scheduled her with the psychiatrist to no identifiable cause although they had seen cases like hers before. All doc would say is that her condition often signaled a nearness to the end. I don't think it was ever resolved because in the next few months she passed.

My Mom may have pseudo-bulbar due to neurological damage from the strokes which causes so much crying. It started like your husbands and then went to all the time. We are trying a drug called Neudexta which is specifically for this problem. It is helping somewhat and I hope that being on it for a longer time will work even better. Please discuss this with your Doctor as he might not even know about it. My gp was shocked to know about this drug after I told him about it. He put her on it right away after he read about it. I hope you look into it. It is so terriby sad when the crying starts happening all the time and all I can do is cry along with her because I feel so helpless. I do have hope for this med.

ask doctor about pseudo-bulbar which causes crying and/or laughing jags. i don't know how they test for it, but maybe that can be looked in to.

My mother's doctor told us that "inappropriate laughing and crying" are common symptoms of dementia. He said they don't know why they're doing it and can't help it. Fortunately, my mom just laughs all the time. It can get a bit creepy since she lives with us and laughs even when bad things happen (like when my dad became extremely ill and had to go to ER), but I still prefer that to crying. Prayers for you to get through it. I believe it will eventually pass.

Was he prone to this at all when younger? I'm visualizing John Boehner in his 80s, though his tears were generally sentimental.