mental-health
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There’s a moment that’s small, almost invisible, when forgetting stops being funny. We all know the harmless versions. Walking into a room and wondering why. Calling the dog by the wrong name. Standing in the grocery aisle, certain something is important… but not sure what. That’s aging. That’s human. And most of the time, we…
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Introduction I often use ChatGPT to check my grammar and help smooth out rough drafts. When I heard on a favorite podcast that you can ask ChatGPT to “Roast me,” and that you might get back a surprisingly accurate narrative about yourself, I decided to give it a go. It’s obvious to me that it…
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The people in my life are my best medicine, and they are the meaning I can measure my life by.
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If you live with Parkinson’s, please hear me: do not take Benadryl.A few days ago, I had a massive, all-over itchiness that drove me crazy. Triple-digit heat had left me with a case of prickly heat, and I couldn’t stop scratching. My scalp itched so badly I tried using dandruff shampoo just for some relief.…
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They say laughter is the best medicine—and for the most part, I agree. But like many things in life with Parkinson’s, even something as joyful as laughter can become… complicated. You see, for me, laughter doesn’t always feel like a gentle release. Sometimes it’s more like a rollercoaster that I didn’t mean to get on.…
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So I dance. Not gracefully. Not even with confidence. But I shift my weight back and forth between two emotional poles, caught between caring too much and not caring at all. Some days, it feels like the worst of both worlds.
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Let’s be honest: using a computer with Parkinson’s is like trying to thread a needle on a rollercoaster. With mittens on. I sit down to write a simple message and somehow end up sending a half-written sentence to my entire contact list. Because my finger twitched. Because the mouse took off like it was on…
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Parkinson’s is a real piece of work. It messes with your body in all the usual ways—tremors, rigidity, slowness, fatigue—but it also has a sneakier, more insidious talent: it steals your nouns. And I don’t mean obscure, once-a-decade trivia-night nouns. I mean everyday, embarrassingly basic words like pit. Yes, pit. I recently tried to talk…
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“Annie, where are you?” I call out as I walk through the house. I find her sitting inside a huge shipping box stuffed with pillows. “What are you doing?!” I ask with amusement.She answers me, “Nothing.” Nothing… that beguiling state of being that seems like it should be relaxing and peaceful, But for a person…
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Social gatherings can be challenging when you’re living with Parkinson’s. (AND Fibromyalgia, Autism and similar conditions.) During this busy season of parties and events, I often find myself reflecting on how best to navigate these situations. I wanted to share an open letter I’ve written—something that helps put my experiences into perspective and might resonate…
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Thanksgiving is upon us and soon many families and friends will participate in a tradition of announcing what they are thankful for this year. But many people have a hard time with this concept because they have truly had a hard time with their lives lately. Chronic Illness is a tough thing to ignore at…
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In Fall of 2023, I was introduced to the Day One Cinema Therapy writing program (via www.yesandexercize.org). It was a lifesaver, helping me find the strength to save myself. Through the 16 weeks of the class, I focused on a Joseph Campbell-inspired Hero’s Journey to uncover hidden emotions that imprisoned me. By naming my apathy…
I have Parkinson's. Parkinson's doesn't have me! 