Just diagnosed

matthew, i prayed, i mean i really prayed, a lot! the first 3 to 4 months after i was diagnosed i fell into a deep funk! i tried to lift myself up but no matter how hard i tried, i couldn't. i was really depressed and became anti-social. me, who is described as the life of any party! i realized i couldn't do it on my own and needed help from God! i went on a religious pilgrimage to france and it was soon after that trip that the doom cloud lifted and i was back to my normal self again for the next six years. i am in my 7th year now and i am only just experiencing the off periods i have been reading about. i count myself blessed to have all the disease modifying trials ongoing right now to look forward and hope for in the near future. you should, too! where there is hope, there is life!

Hey - Thanks for taking the time to share about yourself. We're glad you found our community. I'm sure you have a whirlwind of questions and concerns. I thought I'd direct you to this article, where @karl-robb offers some great advice to those who are newly diagnosed: https://parkinsonsdisease.net/living/direction-newly-diagnosed/. Additionally, we have a great series of articles about coping with anxiety and mental health issues here: https://parkinsonsdisease.net/coping-mental-health-pd/. I hope this helps! - Chris, ParkinsonsDisease.net Team

Hi Matthew, my name is Karl Robb and I have had PD for over 30 years. I know how stressful this disease can be and the anxiety it can cause. It is important to realize that we have options and to never stop seeking those options. If you can qualm your stress and your and anxiety, everything gets better. As we are different, what works for me may be great for you or it may take something else, but don't get discouraged--keep on searching for more solutions whether my suggestions work--or not. I am not a doctor and this is not medical advice, it is just what has shown good results for me in lowering my stress and helping my Parkinson's disease. Meditation, yoga, reiki, massage, reflexology, and exercise (Rock Steady Boxing) have all helped me immensely. Taking care of yourself is a full-time job and you can improve. Maintaining a positive spirit and laughing everyday will help. It is important to remember that we have to balance our mind,body, and spirit. They all must be fed. I wish you well and am happy to help you with any questions, if I have an answer for you. Karl, ParkinsonsDisease.net Community Team Member