ACCEPTANCE
When I was finally diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2004, I went through all the classic phases of: rage, denial, frustration etc. However, I reasoned that there was no point in burdening my family with negative aspects regarding my condition. After all, there was nothing that they could do to alter the long term outlook and it would be unfair to cause them extra anguish and stress. I have always held the opinion that the role of the carer is far more distressing and difficult than the role of the patient.
I therefore devised my own unique methods for exorcising my personal demons and taking control of my life. They included a great deal of very loud singing and angry stamping around, intoning the words of Winston Churchill whilst mimicking his voice.
“We shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills, we shall never surrender.”
Another tactic that I employed, fairly successfully, was to go into the shed at the top of our garden, well out of earshot and scream the ‘F’ word 100 times over. Generally, I’m not a fan of swear words, but this felt good.
I was determined not to become a hostage to James Parkinson and his team of ‘body snatchers’
Little by little, I managed to dispense with the rage, denial and frustration and finally achieved acceptance.
THE NEUROLOGIST’S ADVICE
A juggernaut had just lurched across my existence
But I remained serene, at the neurologist’s insistence.
He advised me not to let this impact too greatly,
To carry on as normal, eat sensibly and take lots of exercise
I told him that I was a vegetarian and had joined a gym lately.
As an afterthought, he asked if there was any sort of drug I felt I needed,
I said “no” with a shrug and he acceded.
Maggie Smart
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