My Life Hacks for Living With Parkinson’s – Yahoo Lifestyle

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Inspirational, motivational, unachievable. We’ve all been called names and they’re just names, except I’m not in your ordinary situation. Last year, during a question and answer session at a Parkinson’s conference, a man walked out displeased with my Pollyanna-esque answer.

In nine years with a visible tremor, I’ve been able to accomplish more than not just the average person with Parkinson’s, but the average person period. My grip strength isn’t that of your average woman; it exceeds the average male on both of my hands. I work full-time, take care of my daughter alone and push my body to extraordinary boundaries.

I’ve been grappling for the last several years of the abundance of my abilities in a sea of disabilities. How am I able to do so much? Why me? What am I doing to create such a success?

I wonder for no other reason than to spread love and if I may impart anything helpful, I genuinely wish to promote it. These are questions I cannot definitively answer.

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Apprehensive, I scheduled numerous speeches for this year, so I’ve had this helpless feeling, this was something to explore in order to better connect to my audience.

I’ve asked my movement disorder specialist, who responded with, “You’re doing everything correct. You exhibit zero signs of the disease right now. I wouldn’t be able to diagnose you today. You may be getting better.”

Wait… What?… Did he just say that?! Again I’m at a loss as to how…

My neurophysical therapist sat with his mouth hanging open at my first consultation. My movement and balance charted excellent, but I came due to impinged shoulder pain and muscle deviations.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone do that many laps in a gait test.”

Again, why? And then he confirmed my thoughts…

I believe I have found the perfect trifecta! The triple shot of sorts. These are my unscientific, unquantifiable and naturally occurring hacks to my Parkinson’s success thus far!

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2. Lifestyle: Exercise, healthy eating, supplementation, I believe this all plays a huge role collectively. Exercise and movement helps boost your dopamine production. The more you move, the more efficient your dopamine functions. You will need less medication, you will function better for longer and could improve your movement. Move it or lose it! Healthy eating just makes you feel better. Obesity is an epidemic in our First World Society. They believe most diseases begin in the gut. Eat healthy and move regularly and many diseases could lessen. And for supplementation, do your research and learn what is out there and then determine what you would like to incorporate into your daily regimen. I have my scientific and firsthand thoughts about a supplement called NAC. To read an in depth piece on that, here is the link.” data-reactid=”36″ type=”text”>2. Lifestyle: Exercise, healthy eating, supplementation, I believe this all plays a huge role collectively. Exercise and movement helps boost your dopamine production. The more you move, the more efficient your dopamine functions. You will need less medication, you will function better for longer and could improve your movement. Move it or lose it! Healthy eating just makes you feel better. Obesity is an epidemic in our First World Society. They believe most diseases begin in the gut. Eat healthy and move regularly and many diseases could lessen. And for supplementation, do your research and learn what is out there and then determine what you would like to incorporate into your daily regimen. I have my scientific and firsthand thoughts about a supplement called NAC. To read an in depth piece on that, here is the link.

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taking back control from what this disease tries to take. I compartmentalize stressors and try to never dwell on the negativities or the possibly not guaranteed. I concentrate on what I can control and look up, giving away all that I can’t. Don’t give this disease more power than it should have! In talking to neurologists specializing in Parkinson’s through the country, those that live these truths, thrive! I found my purpose in life isn’t to just be the best mom I can for my sweet, precious 9-year-old, but to light as many people from within, including her as possible! There is much more grit in your fight when there is reason behind your why you’re fighting in the first place.” data-reactid=”41″ type=”text”>That is to say that pushing my body in ways that seem ludicrous are my way of taking back control from what this disease tries to take. I compartmentalize stressors and try to never dwell on the negativities or the possibly not guaranteed. I concentrate on what I can control and look up, giving away all that I can’t. Don’t give this disease more power than it should have! In talking to neurologists specializing in Parkinson’s through the country, those that live these truths, thrive! I found my purpose in life isn’t to just be the best mom I can for my sweet, precious 9-year-old, but to light as many people from within, including her as possible! There is much more grit in your fight when there is reason behind your why you’re fighting in the first place.

In the end, I can’t promise you the same results as me in your journey against Parkinson’s or whatever you’re battling, but I do promise you peace. I promise you will be better off in the future than you are today. If you follow these guidelines I set forth, you can enjoy each and every day you’ve been given and you won’t look back in regret. You will find yourself happier and live a fuller life. I won’t promise you miracles, but I do believe you’ll feel them.

I wish you all the best in your journey.

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