Coping Skills For Living With Parkinson’s Disease

These are some suggestions from various sources to help you cope with the realities of living with Parkinson’s disease. Some are direct self-help options that will make you feel more in control of your life. Others can help you deal with the reactions of others to your diagnosis and your progressing illness.

Educate Yourself.
The more you know about Parkinson’s, the more you'll be able to help yourself. Ask your doctor about your prognosis, possible treatment options and their side effects. Read up on the illness and treatments in books and on the Internet so that you know what’s available and can make informed decisions. Knowing that there are options can help you maintain your spirits and deal with the feelings of helplessness and loss.

Take Charge
Be proactive in seeking information and treatment. While you may feel anxious or out of control, don't let others make your decisions especially those about your medical decisions for you. Maintain an active role in your own treatment, including scheduling your own appointments and keeping them.

Minimize the stress related to work.
One of your biggest worries is likely to be about work. Many people with Parkinson’s go on working for years after their diagnosis. While it may be tempting to hide your diagnosis and pretend that nothing will change, it’s far better to sit down and figure out what areas of your work may require special adjustments in order for you to complete them properly.

In many cases, it’s best to be candid with your supervisor about your condition and inform him or her about any accommodations you may need in order to perform your job properly. Keep in mind that the Americans with Disabilities Act requires your employer to make reasonable accommodations for your disability. Those accommodations may include modifying your work schedule, reassigning you to another position, restructuring your position or allowing you to use special equipment or devices.

Being open with your supervisor or employer will allow him to make the adjustments that you need, and may help protect your job; however, you may be understandably reluctant to inform your employer about your condition. You are under no legal obligation to do so as long as you can do your job.

Maintain an open relationship with your partner.
Parkinson’s disease isn't only hard on you it’s hard on the people that you live with. It’s important to be open with your partner about your feelings and that you encourage them to be open with you. Parkinson’s disease is likely to change your life and theirs in a lot of ways, and it’s best if you can talk about those changes and plan for them together. The changes may be as diverse as the amount of help you require to do things, and when you'd prefer to just do it yourself no matter how hard it is, or changes in your sexual life. There are ways to cope with everything from financial adjustments to finding time together that’s stress-free and comfortable, but communication is vital.




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