Uncontrollable crying is the latest Parkinson’s challenge I’m facing
Some people with Parkinson's have an increased emotional response
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I’ve been asked to do a small public presentation about my Parkinson’s journey. It’s all I can think about, even though it’s not for another month. Yes, friends, I’m stressing out!
In the years before my Parkinson’s diagnosis, I was a confident public speaker. Usually, I’d be teaching a cooking class, talking about why it’s important to buy local food, or promoting our local farmers market — things I was passionate about.
I still remember teaching my first cooking class. I was very nervous and having flashbacks to my high school years of doing presentations, when the palms of my hands would sweat, and I’d stutter and generally be miserable.
That night was the first in a series of cooking classes that people had signed up for. I clearly remember looking at the room full of people and thinking, “Uh-oh, I’ve made a big mistake here.” Then I just started talking about the food and realized that it wasn’t about me at all. Nobody was looking at me. They were looking at the lemon I was juicing or the tomato I was slicing. After that revelation, I started to enjoy myself, and for many years after that, I was a self-assured public speaker.
When I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2015, my tremor started to get in the way of speaking to a group. I still had confidence, but I had to lead any class with, “I know I look nervous, but don’t worry, I’m a trained chef, and I’m shaking because I have Parkinson’s disease, not because I’m nervous.”
You probably know that anxiety can really feed a tremor, and as my Parkinson’s progressed, I became increasingly anxious and my tremor got out of control. I got to the point where speaking to any group — even a group of friends — caused me to tremor uncontrollably. I opted for deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery in 2021, as it seemed like the best option for me. I am still happy I made that decision, and my tremor usually behaves itself.
In the meantime, Parkinson’s delivered another little challenge for me: I cry uncontrollably at anything and everything. This, in particular, has made me very worried about my upcoming presentation. The last thing anybody wants to see is me sobbing during a speech just because I mentioned how much I love my family or what great support my friends are.
I mentioned it to my neurologist, and guess what? I’m not alone. It’s not unusual for people who’ve had DBS surgery, or anybody with Parkinson’s, to have an increased emotional response to what life deals us. It’s called pseudobulbar affect. Often it entails inappropriate laughter, which honestly sounds like a lot more fun than crying, but inappropriate is inappropriate. I don’t want either.
Is there a solution? Well, yes, there might be. It’s a low-dose antidepressant, which I can’t honestly say I want to take. So I’m trying hard to come up with other, non-drug answers. I want to keep the audience interested and not distracted by weird emotional distractions. I’ve got one month until my presentation to figure this out. If you have any ideas you don’t mind sharing, I’d love to hear them.
Note: Parkinson’s News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Parkinson’s News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Parkinson’s disease.
Jon
Diagnosed in 2013, I am understanding so many things about this "Parkinson's Journey - and this is certainly one of them. Thankyou for this article.
Christine Scheer
Hi Jon,
I keep learning so much about this confounded disease!
Thanks so much for reading.
Christine
Janet Sadler
I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2019, at the age of. 70 but on learning more about this disease I feel it was much sooner than this.
I had always been complimented on my upright posture, but at 60 I found out that I degenerative scoliosis and physiotherapists said that they believed I had been born with this.
I suffered with very painful sciatica for over a year and in my early 60s my legs started feeling jerky and then my voice started getting husky. I experienced weird metallic tastes in my mouth. My sense of smell disappeared and mytaste rapidly deteriorated and until it became barely noticeable with only a few items food.
I have read that Scoliosis can be the signs of onward Parkinson’s.
I have also read that head trauma through falls and exposure to chemicals can be possible causes of Parkinson’s. In my early40s I started having falls on the way to work for no reason and I often hit my head on the pavement, but I never reported it to doctors.Also for several years I was exposed to crop spraying and felt really ill at this time taking to my bed for four or five days each time,
So that is my experience of Parkinson’s.
I have made arrangements and hope they will be carried out that within 48 hrs of my passing my body will be used for research into helping find a cure for Parkinson’s disease. I hope others will be encouraged to do the same.
Janet Sadler
I forgot to mention that I don’t have violent tremors, but can be a little fidgety. I have very poor balance and extremely painful stiffness which seems to move around. I did a lot of exercise the first few years but had numerous falls fractured femur, fractured elbow, finger, wrist, ribs.
I also had an mri scan on my brain because of my loss of smell and taste and I was just told there was no significant brain damage for a woman on my age. I think it would have been more advantageous for me to be made aware of the possibility Parkinson’s then I would have had more years to change my lifestyle and increase exercise. What do you think?
Christine Scheer
Hi Janet,
I too had many symptoms before I was diagnosed. I don't know if it would have been helpful to have a diagnosis sooner? Probably, because then I might've started exercising more, but I was already active, so, who knows. Good luck with everything. Thank you for reading,
Christine
Maria Riga
the pseudobulbar effect is present in many neurological diseases,do an MRI of the brain to rule out stroke.Its not only parkinsons,more common in stroke pt's
Christine Scheer
Hi Maria,
Yes, a friend was sharing a story about people who had strokes and were experiencing the PBA.
Thank you for reading.
Christine
Sandy Samson
I experienced crying for the first time at a live musical .... It was so beautiful I cried through most of it. I've had Parkies since 2011. Love in NZ.
Christine Scheer
Hi Sandy,
That sounds beautiful, actually.
Thanks so much for reading. I love New Zealand!
Christine
Marjorie Weiss
Thank you for bringing us up. My husband has pseudobulbar effect as well. He also would sometimes have uncontrollable laughter, which was so scary that he would be laughing and crying at the same time. For a number of years now he has used a medication called Nuedexta. It has helped him tremendously. It is rather pricey, but for him, it has given him a better quality of life. By that I mean, he would cry so often while watching TV and avoided going to the movies because of the crying. Now he can do both more easily as well as be among people and not be so concerned about the crying.
Christine Scheer
Hi Marjorie,
Good to hear from you. Thanks for the info about the medication; I'm glad it is working for your husband. I've also read that when you feel it coming on, if you change your posture that can help. I haven't tried that yet (ack! I keep forgetting), but I'm hoping it helps.
Thanks so much for reading.
Christine
Rick McEachern
Wishing you continued strength, Christine. It’s wonderful that you’re using your experience to help raise awareness and support others living with Parkinson’s.
Noel Bohorquez
Hi, I too suffer from crying and on top of that I lost both my parents last year both were 95. But I cry at the mention of them and when I watch silly romance movies. They way I have found to control it is to go with it for a while like let the steam off then you can control the teas after a while. Hope that helps