Columns

During my recent time away from writing weekly columns, I was able to reflect on how often I fail at using my self-management toolkit for this chronic illness. I fail at least once every day. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a noisy, intrusive brat that demands to get its…

Sorry to burst your bubble, but the world doesn’t stop when you get Parkinson’s disease. Life keeps going, and you simply have to try to keep up. Even though you have this disease, it shouldn’t stop you from living your life. For me, this meant not giving up traveling…

As I close my eyes, my body gears up for the night’s adventures, which begin to appear in a whirlwind of color. Buildings tower above me, reflecting the warm sun in the sky. I see people walking in and out of them. I feel as if I am actually in…

Growing up, many of us considered our heroes to be Mom, Dad, or anyone who wore a nifty cape. Now, as adults, we tend to find the heroes among us by focusing more on a person’s character. As actor Christopher Reeve — who played Superman on screen before being paralyzed…

I once attended a neurology appointment with my dad, who has Parkinson’s disease. His doctor asked him what dosage of levodopa he’d been taking, and after he responded, she scolded him for not following her directions. I soon discovered that Dad had been taking less levodopa than he’d…

Parkinson’s disease changes many aspects of life, but it doesn’t control everything. Knowledge is power. If you have Parkinson’s, choose to keep learning. Educating yourself on the latest research, treatment options, and everything else about the disease is essential. However, pursuing other interests is equally important. Surround yourself…

I can’t lie to myself. When I’m having a bad day and feeling miserable, it’s extremely hard to shift toward calmness, and nearly impossible to convince myself I feel OK. Positive thinking has no way to get a foothold on my physical, mental, or emotional weather-beaten doorsteps. When I am…

Mornings may be broken with Parkinson’s disease, but the entire day isn’t shot. There are ugly days that land me in bed, but there are also lucid windows that help me write. The lived Parkinson’s experience changes from day to day, and on any given day, fluctuations can occur…

If you get creative, anything can be a workout — even dealing with bugs. Mixing things up keeps exercise fresh and fun, and different routines work different muscles. This is especially important for those of us with Parkinson’s disease. For instance, neuroplasticity exercises retrain our brain to form…

I recently discovered that there’s an entire retail market for adaptive clothing, which can help those who struggle to dress themselves in traditional clothing. Some brands make polo shirts or pants that appear standard, but upon further examination, actually have features such as Velcro and magnets. Other brands offer slip-on…