At some point I had to accept my lot..Theres nothing I can do about it

What allowed me to accept it is the love and support of my fellow parkies, and the fellowship and the 12 steps of AA..All I can do is the best I can do under the conditions of the day

One of the passages in AA literature that has helped me is this one:..

"We are granted a daily reprieve contingent on our spiritual condition"

Thank goodness for the arts. They put sounds and shapes and words and pictures to the feelings we struggle to express.

I still feel that nature is playing a cruel and unfair joke on everyone with an illness like PD and MS and ALS and so on, and I am still offended and affronted. But cruel Nature is also so very beautiful. To be, as we are, as integral a part of nature and of the earth and of the universe as a tree or a blade of grass or the sea is a joy that fills the heart and mind to the point of bursting. I'd sing if I could, in celebration.

I'm elated to be alive, and I'm not going to let PD ruin my life. I'm so used to having PD by now that I try to keep it in the corner where 'things I don't want to dwell on' are bundled up in long term storage. And then I go about trying to have as much fun as I can, reading, watching birds, enjoying family and friends both off and on the computer. Thank you for many, many good 'conversations' dear forum friends. You are a part of the joy and the fun.

birte

I think I cope the best with exercise. If I get outside and walk in the sunshine, I feel like it's been a good day, especially if I can walk with a friend. I like it that I can go on a long, tough hike in the mountains, and I especially like talking about it afterwards! Getting on the treadmill and working up a sweat and a high heart rate makes me feel normal. I imagine it will come to the time when I shuffle down the driveway and back on a good day, and hopefully will still feel like I accomplished my best.

I am dealing with things quite a bit like you are. How long have you been diagnosed? Thank you for the input.

Caya

I've never coped well with PD. I guess because I feel so $h!ttey most of the time. I can't remember the last time that I was laughing, singing and "in a great mood". All the drugs that i've tried for depression, pain and PD in general only allow me to function outside the "assisted living" venue. Nothing that I've taken has ever made me feel "euphoric". I lead a dull grey, dysphoric existence, bereft of anything to look forward to. I sleep a lot and am dissappointed when sleep is over and it's time to get up and face the world again. I am forever guilty of the effects that my dysphoria, dissattachment, and overall disability are having on my family.
I want out of the game of life. I wish that there was some kind of drug that would really "do the trick" of making me feel like living again, something that would quell the pain and start me wanting to live again. The only reason that I haven't (and won't) off myself is ,as long as I breathe, a good check comes in at the end of the month.
SO much for coping. Now, i've alway's been honest, so I'm not going to tell it like it isn't. I don't want pity; so many others need it more than I do. I just can't cope, but I must keep on going. I thank my lucky stars for what I do have and the "normal" years where I was a "happy, well rounded individual".
Sounds like self pity, but it's not. I can't cope well, but at least I can fight the monster with my broadsword and my blunderbuss.

Thank you Birte that's a wonderful reply.

chris

I agree Wendy, I missed walking (particularly in the sunshine) off my list of distractions. i don't walk anything like as much as I used to (I live on the edge of King's Forest in the UK, so plenty of lovely walk available) but I feel feel liberated and so alive when ever I do.

Thank you
Chris

What a heart warming read.All at different stages of this condition,yet predominantly upbeat and encouraging.
And although I personally try to remain positive without relying too heavily on the support of others,there are very definite influences in my life,from people who either make it a Great PD day...a mediochre PD day or a damn bloody difficult PD day.Let me illustrate further.I think we all have experienced the horror of the "Parkinson mask"...you know..the moment when our facial muscles decide to mutate into that "sandwich short of a picnic" expression.The worst of it is,your brain forgets to let you know that that is your expression for the next half hour.So..when everyone else is rolling on the floor,in pleats at someones hilarious joke,you are the only one sitting there like a wax work from Madam Tussauds,not blinking,not smiling....just sort of stony faced and out of it.
Well...the folk who make it a Great PD day will leap to your aid by feigning an emergency situation and whisk you away from the scene in a jiffy,and sit with you patiently until the said muscles are back in action.
The folk who make it a mediochre PD day will slap you on the back in a friendly gesture and kindly make excuses for you "not getting the joke"
The last lot of sleazeballs...the ones who only have thoughts for themselves will wait for a lull in the laughter and then in a loud voice will boom
"What`s eating you..you frosty old fart....have you NO sense of humour!!!"
leaving you to mumble your own reasons for sitting there devoid of expression.
I rest my case.Surround yourself with people who ...like the saying goes;
"will sing your song when you have forgotten the words."

And speaking of songs Chris...at the minute the one closest to my heart is;
Maria McKee ...Breathe.

Both lyrics and music are divine...and if you er...um....ever get chance to do what your heart desires ALL DAY... then this is the song to have in the background .

Steff
x

"ALL DAY" now there's a real distraction........................

Thanks Steff you never fail to entertain.

Chris

Chris,
Excellent Question and great responses. I love my work and I work like crazy to forget/cope with PD. I sincerely believe that its Mirapex-mediated addiction (anyone else with work addiction?). I hesitate to go to family gatherings because I am tired of people feeling sorry for me. So what do I do? work, spend time with kids, read, listen to music and talk to a group of selected people who understand me. Some days its very lonely and depressing but so far managed to get over it with or without drugs.

Girija