They’ve found a way to communicate with them, and their lives may not be the living nightmare we’ve imagined:
“One of the most surprising outcomes of this study is that these patients reported being ‘happy’ despite being physically locked-in and incapable of expressing themselves on a day-to-day basis, suggesting that our preconceived notions about what we might think if the worst was to happen are false. Indeed, previous research has shown that most locked-in patients are actually reasonably satisfied with their quality of life,” he added.
Two pieces of good news in one. The human brain is an amazing, almost incomprehensible thing.
One of my great fears is becoming “locked-in” from progressive neurological illness in my final years, living in a long-term care facility, and having to listen to country-western music the whole time.
Kind of like my current experience at my dental clinic, only there, I only had to listen to “Red-Neck Yacht Club” for the duration of the fitting of a temporary crown . . .
Could have been worse, your dentist could have spent the time talking about their cats.
Dentist?
The work is all done by various dental technician-specialists, hence the country music.
My ex is a nurse who cared for at least one person who was on the verge of being locked-in. It was heart breaking. But he was in good spirits, and the responses he was able to give (blinking was it) indicated that he was happy. It is a relief to me that not everyone in that state is miserable. A huge relief.
Left to your own thoughts you can be happy. The problem is when someone wants to help by inadvertent torture.