"We are always young at heart"
THE FUNDAMENTALS
The ANSWER
Parkinson's Disease can quickly result in those diagnosed feeling they are losing control of their own body and life. Medication can help manage this, but YOU CAN CONTROL the following 6 CRITICAL ASPECTS OF YOUR LIFE.
Because these are things YOU CAN CONTROL and BE RESPONSIBLE FOR, it is CRITICALYOU DECIDE TO TAKE A FIRM HOLD ON THEM RIGHT NOW, as they can make a HUGE DIFFERENCE TO THE QUALITY OF YOUR LIFE.
The six aspects are easy to remember because the first letter of each spells the word
ANSWER
1. ATTITUDES Having a POSITIVE ATTITUDE IS VITAL. The more you can sustain this on a daily basis the better you will be.
Please go to the page on 'Attitudes' carefully. It will probably take more than one go to really absorb it but it is
worth the effort as it will change the quality of your life for the better.
2. NUTRITION This is a poorly understood area for PD and much more research is urgently needed. However there is strong
evidence that a parallel disease MS has been greatly helped by the right diet and NUTRITION. On the page
Nutrition News is a 17 minute video you should watch. It must be worth experimenting with this kind of diet
for Parkinson's, which is designed to provide the very best nutrition to the brain.
3. SPEECH You can control your voice, which often becomes quieter for those diagnosed with Parkinson's. There are Lee
Silverman Voice Workshops and Singing is a great help, so why not join a local singing group or Choir. It is also
great fun! How loud you speak remains entirely within your control.
4.WAKEFULNESS Being fully awake and aware of all that happens to you all the time is vital. Be conscious of those things that
HELP YOU and avoid those things that HARM YOU. Breathing can become very shallow when diagnosed with
Parkinson's. Be focused and aware so you ensure you breathe fully and deeply. The more aware you are the
more you will be in control
5. EXERCISE 'Use it or Lose it' is the mantra here. Without doubt the best form of exercise for PD is any form of DANCING.
Tai Chi is also known to be useful and all forms of exercise are valuable. Don't give up any form of exercise
you already do, as once you do, it is far harder to start again. Please look at all the pages on Exercise and
Dance and join a class if you can.
6. RELAXATION This is important for those diagnosed with PD as there is a tendency to overdo it when you are feeling your
best. It is important to pace yourself. There are many ways to accomplish this, but some key ones are
Meditation, Autogenic Training, and there will sometimes be local classes, or it will be part of a Yoga or Pilates
class.
copyright Laurie Phillips 14.2.12