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My ‘TBM’ Tools for Parkinson’s Self-management

Since being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD) in 2014, I’ve been on a quest to discover scientifically validated tools that will enable me to live better with this disabling disease. My name for this toolbox, my Parkinson’s self-management program, is TBM. “T” is for threshold management, “B” is for…

Holiday Gift Ideas for People With Parkinson’s

Christmas is just around the corner, and I’ve started thinking about gift ideas for people with Parkinson’s, particularly my dad, who is pretty practical. He usually prefers tools to knickknacks or sentimental items. He tells me to get him socks and Channellocks, which I’m happy to do. But I also…

Traveling With My Sister Was an Adventure

In the summer of 2019, I visited my niece, Lou, and my older sister, Bev, in Ohio. While I was there, we decided to drive to Colonial Williamsburg, an outdoor museum in Virginia, for a brief trip. Bev has stage 3 Parkinson’s disease (PD) and was 81 at the…

(Re)learning Mindful Resting Involves Working at Letting Go

To live better with Parkinson’s disease, I had to relearn how to walk – “performing” while using mindful movements instead of absent-minded walking. I had to relearn how to talk, being mindful of volume, projection, and using lots of “pause between” to clarify my thoughts before blurting. I…

Meditation Helps Me Seek the Quiet Mind

The “pause between” is my new Parkinson’s self-management tool. I use it every day to help me switch from old ways of reacting to the “flicker effect” (dysregulated systems). It provides improved threshold management and mindful movements, which make life easier. The old ways are like a paved…

These Exercises Have Helped With My Sister’s Cognitive Issues

My sister Bev, who has stage 3 Parkinson’s disease (PD), was diagnosed in 2017. She currently faces cognitive challenges, including issues with decision-making and short-term memory. The Parkinson’s Foundation notes that cognitive impairment is common among people with Parkinson’s, and the “same brain changes that lead to motor symptoms…