by Cheryl Wirtley
One of my family members fell off a cliff by the ocean last fall. His injuries were numerous and included skull, back, and neck fractures. We all worried that he may not walk again or resume a normal life. Fortunately, he surprised us and walked out of the hospital two days after being in the ICU. The nurse said that in 33 years she had not seen anyone walk out of the hospital with that many injuries. He decided he was going to be alright and would heal fast. He said all along that he was fine. He remains optimistic and full of hope. He has the “right stuff” for healing. He has a great and positive attitude. I reflected on his attitude throughout his healing process. He never once doubted that he would be fine. He remained positive and hopeful the entire time.
This made me think of the first time I heard that I had Parkinson’s Disease. My heart sank. My emotions ranged from sadness to depression to denial. Once I was through the roller coaster of emotions, I had a decision to make: how will I handle this in daily life? My intention is to maintain a positive attitude towards life and Parkinson’s. I believe this makes living with Parkinson’s a little easier.
According to the Parkinson’s Disease in America 2018 study, significant numbers of people diagnosed with PD lose hope and find their emotional well-being has been negatively impacted. Over 50% of those surveyed report being quite a bit, or very, sad or nervous. Nearly 70% report a significant loss of hope. They fear mental health issues and a general dip in emotional well-being. Although it is normal to experience a loss of hope or fear about what the future holds, keeping a positive attitude and maintaining an (sic) positive outlook can make life more enjoyable. This approach is actually beneficial for everyone, whether or not they have Parkinson’s, or care about someone else who does.
Staying Positive When You Have Parkinson’s · October 23, 2018
Here are some things you can do to remain positive:
Listen to music
Call a friend
Focus on what you can do
Create a gratitude journal
Be compassionate towards others
Help someone in need
Exercise
Play
The things that help me remain positive are exercise and volunteering for a non-profit Parkinson’s organization. Exercise energizes me and helps me feel ready to take on the rest of the day. I find the volunteer work meaningful. Meeting others who have Parkinson’s enriches my life and helps me get through the tougher times. I’ve made some good friends with Parkinson’s and know that I can call someone who understands.
The young man that fell off the cliff is doing fairly well. He is resuming his normal life. He is back to training and exercising like he used to. The message for today is to think positively and exercise. You will be surprised at how much it helps.