Living With Parkinson's Disease

For many people who are newly diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, their first reaction is denial. Being told they have an incurable illness is one of the hardest things that many of them will ever have to deal with. A diagnosis of Parkinson's disease carries with it the realization that the body will never be the same.

It is important for family members and caregivers to understand that in the first stages, the diagnosis of Parkinson's has some profound psychological effects that are often more difficult to deal with than the physical effects. This denial may take the form of refusing to tell family and friends. Or it could mean the patient goes from one specialist to another hoping to find one who will give another diagnosis to the problem.

There are some studies that show that the first symptoms of Parkinson's may involve chemical changes that cause depression and mood disorders in patients. This is above and beyond what most people will go through: the usual stages of grief, which are denial, anger, and eventually acceptance.

Most patients, however, come to terms that there are things they must do in order to live with the disease. In other words, they can live life with as little disruption as possible. If this has happened to you, adapting to life with Parkinson's disease involves making changes in many areas of your life. It means learning what you can manage on your own and what you cannot. It means learning when you need to seek help from someone else.

You must also decide when to tell people about your illness, and how to deal with their reactions to it. And they will have some type of reaction. For you, however, it is normal to feel anger, frustration and fear. But it is also important that you know that there are ways that you can cope with all of those emotions.

Parkinson's disease is not a character flaw. It is not a sign of weakness on your part. Dealing with a chronic illness is a long and difficult journey, and the sooner you can accept this, the better.

Remember, I is not a character failure to have difficulties - and it's not a sign of weakness to ask for help when you need it. Too many times patients will feel overcome by all the changes they have to make in their lives. One of these changes may be in having to ask for help in dealing with your feelings. Remember, depression and anxiety are symptoms of the disease, and are more common than you might expect.

Living with Parkinson's disease is not always easy, but there are support systems available to help you. It is always a good idea to explore the possibilities that you have available. If you need help, ask for it. Be aware that even small changes can make a major difference in your outlook on life and in your quality of life as well. They really can.

Never forget that you are not alone with this problem. There are many ways and kinds of help available to you if you only seek them out. Among the various support systems are: special services to deal with physical needs; physical therapy; counseling; local support groups; in-home services to help with housekeeping, and online support groups to help you learn more about the options available to you.