Columns

I’ve always been an analytical person. For as long as I can remember, I’ve catalogued data about my life, creating charts that visually represent how I’m performing at work or whether I’m achieving my fitness goals. I believe this type of information will equip me to better handle the future.

When my husband, Arman, was diagnosed in 2009 with early-onset Parkinson’s disease at the age of 38, I learned everything I could about it. I purchased every book I could get my hands on and searched the internet several times a day. I educated myself about the…

Parkinson’s disease creates midbrain damage that can hijack your life. To decrease the intensity of such brain-stealing experiences, I’ve found that insight meditation, which requires sanctuary, solitude, and proper intention, is very helpful. I visualize working around the midbrain damage as a sacred process. That’s the intention…

According to the National Organization for Rare Disorders, rare diseases affect over 300 million people globally. That seems huge, but it encompasses over 7,000 different rare disease communities. In the U.S., a rare disease is defined as one that…

Have you ever witnessed someone falling? One minute they’re walking by your side, and the next, they’re on the ground. Usually this involves slipping on the ice on a cold winter day or drinking too much beer at a college tailgate. But for those of us who have a friend…

In a recent column, I reflected on my use of solitude to help address the problems that accompany Parkinson’s disease. This chronic illness is frustrating because, like the automatic transmission on your car, many of the brain’s automatic functions just don’t work well. With Parkinson’s, the brakes are…

Growing up, I was often told, “A healthy mouth equals a happy brain.” I wish I would’ve taken this advice to heart sooner, because now I’m learning the hard way. At 32, I’m in the process of getting dentures. I was shocked when my dentist told me recently that I’d…

Welcome to year 10 of my life with Parkinson’s disease. The cure I’d expected hasn’t been found yet, so my journey continues. While there are times of contentment and sadness, there is also joy and laughter as I find humor in the irony of growing older as someone with…

I recently began attending a support group for Parkinson’s disease caregivers. Although I may have been one of the group’s youngest members, I’ve been a caregiver for longer than most, as my husband, Arman, was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson’s in 2009. It was nice to…

Sanctuary and solitude help create the conditions for practicing insight meditation. This helps me to sense the Parkinson’s brain noise coming from my damaged midbrain, enabling me to better understand, and manage, some of my Parkinson’s symptoms. Parkinson’s is a progressive disease of the midbrain. My…