Living With Parkinson’s

Being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease can bring your world to a standstill. Up until now you were adept at performing even the most mundane tasks by yourself. But suddenly, you have to depend on family members, friends, or other caregivers to help you carry out simple tasks. This can be very frustrating, upsetting, and heartbreaking.

We understand. Through this blog we offer you a few self-help measures to come to terms with your diagnosis, and also make you realise that all hope is not lost.

Tips for living with Parkinson’s

Be sure to seek medical help at the earliest.
Follow the right course of treatment to avoid complications later.
Make sure you clarify all doubts related to symptoms, treatment options, medicines, side-effects and prognosis, from your doctor.
Do not isolate yourself from the rest of the world.
Discuss your worries and concerns with your loved ones. This will buoy your spirits and also help you realise the number of people willing to offer support.

Avoid stress and its triggers as much as you can.

High stress levels can lead to depression and adversely interfere with the treatment.

So, how do you effectively avoid stress and maintain a positive outlook towards life? By follow a few simple steps:

Engage in stress-busting activities which pacify and revitalize the mind (deep breathing, meditation, watching nature etc.)
Surround yourself with optimistic people.
Eat healthy, well-balanced meals.
Get enough sleep.

Be informed about your condition.

While it is always better to seek opinions and information from your doctor, it is only human that you’ll want to turn to the internet to know more.

So, here are a couple of credible sources for you to visit when in doubt: www.parkinsonssocietyindia.com

www.parkinsonsdiseaseindia.com

www.plexusnc.com/parkinsons-disease

Tips for caring for a Parkinson’s patient

Whilst living with Parkinson’s disease can be tough, caring for a Parkinson’s patient can be daunting and exhausting too. Since the condition is chronic and progressive, it can inflict significant emotional distress on caregivers.

The following coping measures can substantially help caregivers in driving away the everyday stress:

Be realistic and understand what you can do and what you cannot to help the patient. It is important to realise that you can improve the quality of life, but cannot cure their condition.
Taking sole responsibility for the patient’s health can put you under too much pressure. If other family members live together then allocate responsibilities to each one in order to simplify things.
Do not make the patient completely dependent on you, unless otherwise required. Depending upon the severity of symptoms, allow the patient to carry out activities which can be managed on their own. This will not only boost the patient’s confidence but will also help you to have extra time for other activities.
Perform routine activities in an organized manner. This will help you to handle stress more effectively.
Take out time for yourself. It is essential to indulge in activities that interest you from time to time in order to relax the clogged and weary mind. Watch a positive movie, spend time with friends or do anything that you love to alleviate stress.
Share your feelings. Venting your anxieties and worries to people close to you has a calming effect on the disquiet mind. But make sure you do so with people who are optimists and not those who will pull you down.
Follow mind relaxation techniques such as yoga, guided meditation and controlled breathing.
Do not neglect your health. If you wish to or have to provide long-term support to your loved one, you need to be mindful of your own well-being as well. So rejuvenate your mind and body with healthy meals, adequate sleep, exercise and positive thinking.

Here’s a blog that can help you understand how you can help a loved one with Parkinson’s.

Can you live a normal life with Parkinson’s?

Yes! Parkinson’s does not have to completely disrupt your life. Thanks to modern medicine, chronic disorders like Parkinson’s can also be managed, and patients can lead a life of quality and dignity.

At Plexus, India’s first ISO-Certified stem cell research centre, we offer customised Parkinson’s rehabilitation programme that feature the following therapies and methods –