mental-health
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New Year’s Day is supposed to feel like a beginning.January 1 arrives with confetti and expectations—a collective agreement that we get to start over. My body did not get the memo. Parkinson’s doesn’t pause for fireworks or make resolutions at midnight. It doesn’t care what year it is. It measures time differently—by symptoms, by medication…
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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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Dear Friend, You didn’t ask for this. None of us did. But here you are—with a diagnosis that changes everything and nothing at once. And you told me. That matters more than I can say. I know how hard that moment can be—the words sticking in your throat, the fear of how it might land.…
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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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Apparently, the non-Parkinson’s part of my brain didn’t get the notice that the Parkinson’s part of my brain isn’t exactly reliable these days. Ideas still pop up before I can stop them—like a reflex, or maybe like a dog spotting a squirrel. The problem is, once I throw out an idea, people assume I’m signing…
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The question “How are you?” might seem like a casual greeting, but for those of us with Parkinson’s, it’s a bit like being asked to sum up an entire movie plot in one sentence—complicated, unpredictable, and loaded with twists. When I say “I’m fine” or “okay,” it’s not a complete truth, but it’s also not…
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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…
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But life, as Benny reminded me with a blank document titled “New Call Book,” doesn’t follow a script. He told me, “Your future isn’t written, and you can’t plan what’s next in a constantly changing life.” Annie concluded, “It’s back to Daisy’s advice. You should live the way Tena is discovering how to live. By…
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I have no filters or barriers to protect my nervous system. I feel like a raw, exposed bundle of nerves most of the time.
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It’s a fast and rickety wooden roller coaster ride of emotions, too. There are days when it feels like I am only an observer watching my mental control, ability to speak sensibly, and my general health slip away. This crisis of my body and mind changing due to PD is stealthy, treacherous and can be…
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Parkinson’s disease (PD) has many symptoms. Now in my sixth year of having PD I sometimes look at these symptoms as if they are milestones on a checklist.
I have Parkinson's. Parkinson's doesn't have me! 