Five Practical Points to Ponder:
Point 1:
You are greater than your diagnosis! You are not a freckle, you are not a hangnail, and you are not Parkinson’s disease. You may have to contend with one or more things that may or may not annoy you or inhibit you, but that thing does not define who you are.
Point 2:
Grieve it! PD is real and it is progressive in diminishing actions we’ve taken for granted all our lives. Grief is a part of living and is natural. Dead people don’t grieve, only living ones do! Grief doesn’t have to be your soul mate, but can be your friend in balancing your life.
Point 3:
Talk about it! Get the grief, the fear of the unknown, the ego, self image, or whatever else is bugging you, off your lips. You’ll get a multitude of different responses; some positive and encouraging; some patronizing; some awkward; but all reflective of the person who reacts. You just need to get it out and off your chest; sometimes more than once. If no one will listen, write it down. If pen is not you friend, say it out loud.
Point 4:
Move it! Action speaks louder than words, we’ve heard and the same is true living with PD. You’ve got to keep moving. Whether you walk, skip, jump, or run, keep it up. It sometimes isn’t pretty, but it’s necessary to help maintain independence and flexibility. Movement is your friend!
Point 5:
It’s YOUR choice! Now that you know what PD is and that it’s going to be a part of your life from now on, YOU are the one who has to decide how to live with it. Most folks are ignorant about PD. Ignorance is curable. Find out. Decide what works for you and what doesn’t. The blame game or being the victim neither serves you nor preserves you!
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