It is incredibly difficult to live with a chronic illness like Parkinson’s Disease. Many patients feel depressed, angry and completely discouraged. This is all normal, but just because it’s normal doesn’t make it any better. With Parkinson’s Disease, a range of mental health issues often start to occur, because there are chemical changes inside the brain. Because of this, patients often feel even more depressed or anxious. The frustration that is felt by patients is equally real, because so many everyday thinks, like walking, eating or talking, become almost impossible to do unaided and take an inordinate amount of time.
Getting Support
Someone who suffers from Parkinson’s Disease is hopefully able to get a lot of real support from their loved ones and nearest and dearest. However, these people have all the best intentions but will never be able to truly understand what is really going on. Hence, it is encouraged that patients also seek support from support groups. Some people throw themselves into this, attending meetings and being regular contributors on online forums. Others shy away from real social contact, but they can still get great help from support groups through resources and literature, as well as education. This can also be beneficial for the families and friends, who may not know a lot about Parkinson’s Disease. Support groups are communities full of people who truly do understand what a sufferer is going through.
Finding Support Groups
There are a number of ways to find good support groups in your area. The best place to start is by speaking to your medical professional who should have details from local community groups on file. The internet is also going to be an ally in this situation. There are numerous Parkinson’s Disease forums. Besides this, almost every country has a Parkinson Foundation, where you should be able to find a wealth of information.
Psychological Help
Because of the chemical changes in your brain if you have Parkinson’s Disease, it may be useful to seek professional mental health. Being able to talk to someone who truly understands the Parkinson’s Disease symptoms is very useful. Besides this, they may be able to prescribe you with medications to at least somewhat restore the chemical imbalance in your brain that is leading to anxiousness and depression.
What Is Parkinson’s Disease?
Parkinson’s Disease is a progressive and degenerative disorder of the nervous system. It affects movement, making people shake. It often starts with nothing but a small tremor in the hand, but it quickly progresses through different Parkinson’s Disease stages. Besides tremors, it also leads to slowing of movement, as well as stiffness. At first, there may be very few outward signs of the disease. However, after a while, the face will cease to show expression and the arms will cease to swing when you walk. Speech often becomes slurred and soft. The causes of Parkinson’s Disease are largely unknown, but genes and environmental triggers seem to play a part. There is no Parkinson’s Disease cure, but the prognosis is getting much, much better. Through Parkinson’s disease treatment, symptoms can improve greatly. Unfortunately, the Parkinson’s Disease prediction remains that it is incurable and the Parkinson’s Disease prognosis remains unchanged.