Its 02:00 and
wide awake – what awoke us? I’m not entirely sure. Battle weary, fatigue
accompanies us wherever we go. So here we sit, Parkinson’s and me, alone in the
trenches almost accustomed to each other’s company over the years, yet we are
not allies. Far from it, we are mortal enemies, forced together against our
will.
One needs to dig
deep to find the strength to continue battling daily. How did Parkinson’s and I end up in the same trench? I have no idea. My fingers
tap consistently from the resting tremor, as if sending out a message in Morse
code; H – hotel, E – echo, L – Lima – P – papa. HELP! I’m calling for help –
but no one can hear.
No matter what
the disease, despite having support, when awake in the middle of the night,
unable to sleep, these are the worst and loneliest times. Dark thoughts lurk in
the shadows of our subconscious, and only with strong determination, focusing
on positive and hopeful beliefs, will these unpleasant feelings dissipate.
During the day, the battleground appears less treacherous, and I’m kept busy
with physiotherapy, exercise, voice therapy, writing and campaigning or any
number of other daily activities that help keep Parkinson’s at bay.
So to all you
Parkinson soldiers out there, who fight every day, keep up your guard, don’t
let your defenses down for a moment. With millions of sufferers around the
world, we are like a mighty army; in numbers we have strength, and together we
will prevail. What keeps me going you may ask, and the answer is simple -
trying to maintain a positive attitude and a sense of humour. These are two
powerful weapons that help me get through each day. Laughter, as silly as it may
sound, is a forceful shield against Parkinson’s. After watching the comedian, Michael McIntyre I was inspired to write about laughter which is my topic this week in
The Huffington Post.
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