Accepting this disease

Wanda, Thank you for your comment on accepting PD. I was an independent person all my life. Like you, I can't drive anymore and have to depend on my wife to drive me places. I know that PD is hard to accept. You might have considered already the services of a psychologist, social worker, or a clergyman to talk things out. I have. However, I make a 'can do' list of all the things I still can do. I do not look back in the past. It has helped me. I look at my life daily as, "Today is the best day of my new life!" I hope that you can come to terms with the disease. With kind regards,

Hi Wanda,
I was just diagnosed myself about 6 months ago. This is a tough disease to accept. Really tough. Especially for a Type A personality like myself who is a go getter, doesn’t wait on anyone to help me, and who has lots of ideas constantly popping into my brain about things I want to do. When I was practicing as an nurse practitioner, my employees would were half my age complained that they could not keep up with me. It’s true, they couldn’t and I got frustrated with them sometimes. Lol.


It’s an adjustment for sure. I feel like you do, Wanda. However, I do believe we have to discover who we are now, how we can navigate through these obstacles and look at the future in a more positive light. Wanda, do you realize how emotionally strong a person has to be to do this? Pat yourself on the back every time you get back up from falling. Every time you learn how to make adjustments to live this new life. It takes a very special person to do what we do on a daily basis.
As Marc commented, “Today is the best day of my new life “. I am still discovering that new life and that new person. You will, too.
But right now I am still mourning my lost life. And I think that is ok, too. I believe the grieving process is necessary to get to the other side. I am mourning the old Judy that I was so proud to be and that everyone loved and knew they could depend on. I think it’s normal to do that before we can see the sun again and realize that there is much more for us just over the horizon. I spoke with my psychiatrist yesterday. She explained why I feel the way I do and why I am struggling. PD is a “life altering” disease. It’s not like having arthritis or eczema. We actually have to learn how to navigate through this new body and mind. Like she said, “Judy, how can you not feel the way you do when the rug has suddenly been pulled out from under you?” Oh, happy day. Someone just acknowledged why I feel this way. They actually understand!
Wanda, if you haven’t, try to see someone to help you realize why you are having trouble accepting this diagnosis. I know that we actually have to grieve for our lost lives, but that will enable us to discover the “new” me in each of us. I went to my first PT appointment today and I actually have hope that in many ways I might actually be better than I was before I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. PD can make one feel isolated and different. So we need these people in our lives to not only help us gain strength, etc., but to feel like we have someone on our side. We need someone who can see what we are dealing with on a daily basis and give us the support and encouragement for a brighter future. Wanda, I feel just like you feel. You are not alone. Once you work through the grieving process of who you once where, then you can start establishing the new you. And yes, there is a new Wanda in there just waiting to get out!

Hi Wanda,


If I look back on my Parkinson’s progression, my symptoms have taken a similar path to yours. I am a major fall risk, I no longer can drive, I walk with the aid of walking sticks. I also have taken several trips down the road of denial or the can’t accept path. It may seem funny now, but stating your acceptance issue or asking for help is a first step to accepting that you have Parkinson’s. I found, like Marc, making lists of things I still can do and looking for new things I can do with my new skill set helped to get me “unstuck” from thinking about skills I’ve lost. I have found a lot of things both old and new that I can enjoy and look forward to doing. Adding

Hi Wanda,
You are absolutely correct. Parkinson’s is an extremely tough diagnosis. But you are not alone. As a fellow PwP I share your challenges. My guess is it is not the 1st ‘life ‘ challenge you have ever faced nor Is it the First challenge you will overcome. I think for me the first stage was acceptance.
The fact is your life does not have to change that drastically. The best thing is what was good in your life before your diagnosis can still be good. I try and focus on those the good things. I have also found that the benefits having Pals wIth Parkinson’s that I meet with weekly cannot be overstated.