Inside Parkinson's

One of my family members fell off a cliff by the ocean a couple of weeks ago.  His injuries are numerous including skull, back, and neck fractures.  We were all worried that maybe he would not be able to walk or resume a normal life.  He fooled us and walked out of the hospital two days after being in the ICU.  The nurse said that in 33 years she had not seen anyone walk out of the hospital with that many injuries. He decided that he was going to be alright and would heal fast.   He says he is fine. He is optimistic and full of hope.  He has the “right stuff” for healing.  He has a great and positive attitude.

I was thinking about attitude during this time.  When you first hear that you have Parkinson’s Disease, your heart sinks.  Your emotions range from sadness to depression to denial.  Once you get through that, you have a decision to make: how are you going to handle this in your daily life?  Parkinson’s is a life long disease, so you must look ahead and decide how you will handle managing your disease.  

According to the Parkinson’s Disease in America 2018 study, significant numbers of people diagnosed with PD lose hope and find their emotional well being derailed. Over 50% of those surveyed report being quite a bit, or very, sad or nervous. Nearly 70% report a significant loss of hope. They fear mental health issues and a general dip in emotional well being. Although it is normal to experience a loss of hope or bouts of fear about what the future holds, keeping a positive attitude, and maintaining an upbeat outlook can make life more enjoyable. This approach is actually beneficial for everyone, whether or not they have Parkinson’s, or care about someone else who does.

Staying Positive When You Have Parkinson’s · October 23, 2018

Here are  some things you can do to remain positive:

• Listen to music
• Call a friend
• Focus on what you can do
• Create a gratitude journal  
• Be compassionate towards others
• Help someone in need
• Exercise

My very favorite thing to be positive is exercise.  This makes me feel so much better.  I practice some type of aerobics or yoga six days a week.   I have gained strength and balance. Exercise will reduce your Parkinson’s symptoms and slow down the progression of the disease. I am also a volunteer for a Parkinson’s non-profit organization.   Meeting others who have Parkinson’s enriches my life and helps me get through the tougher times.  It helps to know that I can call someone who understands. 

The young man that fell is doing fairly well.  He returned back home and is resuming his normal life.   He may not be doing everything he used to, but he is up and moving.  The message for today is to think positively and think happy thoughts.  You will be surprised at how much it helps.