Before I Lose My Own Mind: Navigating Life as a Dementia Caregiver
Both a practical guide and a deeply personal memoir from a psychologist, neuroscientist, and end-of-life doula, Before I Lose My Own Mind helps dementia caregivers find ways to support their loved ones—while centering their own well-being.

When Dr. Beverly E. Thorn became a caregiver for her husband, Walt, she joined a massive army. Worldwide, unpaid dementia caregiving requires the equivalent of forty million full-time workers, and that number will only grow. But navigating dementia caregiving can feel like trying to climb a mountain in the dark—and few resources exist to support caregivers in finding their way.

In Before I Lose My Own Mind, Thorn—a psychologist, neuroscientist, and end-of-life doula—provides an honest vision of caregiving that is tender, openhearted, and genuinely useful. Filled with resources and insights on financial planning, advance care directives, clinical trials, support groups, death with dignity, grief, recovery, and more, this book is a roadmap for all caregivers, whether they're family or friends, spouses or children, professionals or novices. For those coping with the grief, exhaustion, and loneliness of a challenge they never expected, help is out there. Surviving dementia caregiving is a team effort. Consider this book a part of your support crew.

1147133051
Before I Lose My Own Mind: Navigating Life as a Dementia Caregiver
Both a practical guide and a deeply personal memoir from a psychologist, neuroscientist, and end-of-life doula, Before I Lose My Own Mind helps dementia caregivers find ways to support their loved ones—while centering their own well-being.

When Dr. Beverly E. Thorn became a caregiver for her husband, Walt, she joined a massive army. Worldwide, unpaid dementia caregiving requires the equivalent of forty million full-time workers, and that number will only grow. But navigating dementia caregiving can feel like trying to climb a mountain in the dark—and few resources exist to support caregivers in finding their way.

In Before I Lose My Own Mind, Thorn—a psychologist, neuroscientist, and end-of-life doula—provides an honest vision of caregiving that is tender, openhearted, and genuinely useful. Filled with resources and insights on financial planning, advance care directives, clinical trials, support groups, death with dignity, grief, recovery, and more, this book is a roadmap for all caregivers, whether they're family or friends, spouses or children, professionals or novices. For those coping with the grief, exhaustion, and loneliness of a challenge they never expected, help is out there. Surviving dementia caregiving is a team effort. Consider this book a part of your support crew.

39.99 Pre Order
Before I Lose My Own Mind: Navigating Life as a Dementia Caregiver

Before I Lose My Own Mind: Navigating Life as a Dementia Caregiver

Before I Lose My Own Mind: Navigating Life as a Dementia Caregiver

Before I Lose My Own Mind: Navigating Life as a Dementia Caregiver

Audio CD

$39.99 
  • SHIP THIS ITEM
    Available for Pre-Order. This item will be released on October 28, 2025

Related collections and offers


Overview

Both a practical guide and a deeply personal memoir from a psychologist, neuroscientist, and end-of-life doula, Before I Lose My Own Mind helps dementia caregivers find ways to support their loved ones—while centering their own well-being.

When Dr. Beverly E. Thorn became a caregiver for her husband, Walt, she joined a massive army. Worldwide, unpaid dementia caregiving requires the equivalent of forty million full-time workers, and that number will only grow. But navigating dementia caregiving can feel like trying to climb a mountain in the dark—and few resources exist to support caregivers in finding their way.

In Before I Lose My Own Mind, Thorn—a psychologist, neuroscientist, and end-of-life doula—provides an honest vision of caregiving that is tender, openhearted, and genuinely useful. Filled with resources and insights on financial planning, advance care directives, clinical trials, support groups, death with dignity, grief, recovery, and more, this book is a roadmap for all caregivers, whether they're family or friends, spouses or children, professionals or novices. For those coping with the grief, exhaustion, and loneliness of a challenge they never expected, help is out there. Surviving dementia caregiving is a team effort. Consider this book a part of your support crew.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9798228682504
Publisher: Tantor
Publication date: 10/28/2025
Product dimensions: 5.20(w) x 5.70(h) x (d)
Age Range: 18 Years

About the Author

Beverly E. Thorn is a psychologist, neuroscientist, and author of several professional books on managing chronic illness. She retired from university professorship in psychology when her husband became disabled with dementia. Thorn was his primary caregiver until he died of Alzheimer's disease related complications in 2020. She subsequently got certified as an End-of-Life Doula. Her book Before I Lose My Own Mind is more personal than professional-part memoir and part guidebook. It is written for the caregiver-to help them run-and survive-the dementia care gauntlet.

Robin Siegerman trained as an actor in NYC and Toronto, Canada. She trained as an audiobook narrator with coaches Sean Pratt, Joel Froomkin, and Dawn Harvey. In 2018 she was nominated for Best International Voiceover at the One Voice Awards in London, England, for the documentary voice-over in HarrysStory.ca. In 2019 she won Best Corporate Training Voice Over Artist by CV Magazine. In 2021 she won an Earphones Award from AudioFile magazine for A Son at the Front, by Edith Wharton, and was again nominated for a One Voice Award for the audiobook Rosedale in Love, by Lev Raphael, a retelling of Edith Wharton's The House of Mirth.

Robin grew up in Montreal speaking English and French, so she developed an ear for language and accents at an early age. She enjoys bringing this to her audiobook narration and enhancing the stories. With an additional background as an internationally award-winning interior designer, author of Renovation Bootcamp: Kitchen, and conference speaker, she loves to "make movies for the ears." In her spare time, you can find her surrounded by a bevvy of senior rescue dogs, singing with her a capella ensemble in Toronto, or playing board games with friends and family.
From the B&N Reads Blog

Customer Reviews