Mindfulness meditation may lessen depression

Mindfulness meditation — a mental training of being focused on the present moment without interpretation or judgment — was better than physical exercise at lessening depression symptoms and maintaining emotional stability in people with mild-to-moderate Parkinson’s disease. That’s according to data from a small clinical trial conducted in Hong…

Relief From My Parkinson’s Symptoms Is Elusive but Attainable

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…

Meditation Practice Helps Me to Self-manage Parkinson’s Disease

My battle with Parkinson’s disease (PD) is getting more difficult. I have more pain, more motor and nonmotor problems, and more difficulty processing emotions. The stages of Parkinson’s are defined by the Parkinson’s Foundation, yet everyone is different in how they progress and at what rate. I feel…

Food and Parkinson’s: Relearning How to Eat

Relearning how to eat with Parkinson’s disease is more than being mindful of mouth movements. It requires careful observations of the motivations behind what food to eat, when, and how much. Relearning how to eat required me to examine the drive to start eating and the desire to stop…

Tips for Living Well With Parkinson’s Disease in 2022

After a Parkinson’s diagnosis, life can become a stream of “what ifs” and “I can’ts.” While it’s true that life changes with the disease, there are still many things we can do, including exercising, practicing mindfulness, and eating a healthy diet. Many ring in the new year by promising…

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…

Is Parkinson’s the Culprit for Every Calamity in Life?

Can those of us with Parkinson’s disease blame the condition for all of our trials and tribulations? The quick answer often is “Yes. Absolutely.” However, it’s not always so black and white. While it’s true that Parkinson’s complicates things, it’s not responsible for every calamity in life. Various circumstances can…