Don’t Stop Moving Forward: Staying Motivated with Parkinson's

Atrophy means ‘A wasting away of the body or of an organ or part’, according to The Random House dictionary. Atrophy can be the result of doing nothing for yourself. Atrophy is like going nowhere and doing nothing. You don’t get a trophy, you get nothing because you did nothing!

Taking the path of least resistance

Parkinson’s disease doesn’t just require day-to-day monitoring but for maximum tip-top care, it can require minute by minute observation. Without close observation, one might not avoid falls or notice that the medications are working and when might be a peak time for getting exercise. The less that we choose to do and the more that we avoid, the more we cheat ourselves. If we take the path of least resistance, there is a strong chance we let atrophy invade at least one of our senses. Dulling our senses and lowering our expectations because we got a chronic illness diagnosis gives us a great excuse to give in!  If we give in, we may pay a dear price that we’ll regret!

Feeling apathetic with Parkinson's

You don’t have to have an illness to feel down on yourself or just be apathetic. If you are feeling these feelings, moving ahead and taking care of yourself could become more difficult. Recognizing the quandary that you may have put yourself in is the first step to getting back to yourself!

How to stay motivated with Parkinson's

Motivation can come from a variety of ways. Whether it is survival, quality of life, or daily maintenance, maintaining a schedule and a purpose are vital to seeing that atrophy does not set in. When you stop caring or are just plain belligerent, it’s time for a reality check. It’s time to realize that you aren’t by yourself, now is the time to do something to change your circumstances, and if you need it, to ask for help.

A lot of accidents could be avoided, and many outcomes might have varied more favorably, had people I know chosen to ask for assistance. Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness but a sign of self-awareness - and that’s a sign of strength! Asking for help may just be the nudge that you need to get back on track.