Help request: mind-body work

[Richard Morelli <rmorelli@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

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Hello, Alan and PD list,
   I happened to notice your message of Jan. 18 among the many I we all =
receive.  I was diagnosed with PD in 1988 at age 45 and struggle with =
many of the symptoms you describe including foot cramps.  Since you are =
in southern California, where I understand the local culture supports =
alternative therapies more than here in the East, I will venture that =
you may not dismiss what I am about to say.  What I have done has helped =
me TREMENDOUSLY.  =20

   It has been recognized for some time that depression and heightened =
emotional responses go along with PD.  I decided even before diagnosis =
that I was depressed and began counseling therapy.  I also noticed that =
my symptoms seemed less in the long term after dealing with emotional =
issues.  I recognized that I was seriously codependent (see Melodie =
Beattie, Co-Dependent No More) but ignore the references to alcoholism, =
which is a way of numbing the pain of codependency.  I joined =
CoDependents Anonymous and continued counseling therapy.  My symptoms =
have continued to improve as I have come to grips with my realities and =
began to care for myself emotionally.  As a child I had learned to stuff =
my feelings and could not show anger or cry.  I can see now that denying =
feelings did not make them go away--they were there all the while in the =
lymbic and/or 'gut' brain referred to by Alan Bonander recently in this =
mail list.  My therapists now agree that while I have a ways to go, my =
symptoms may all but disappear in a couple more years.  A major thing I =
have learned is that I was so concerned about what others felt and =
expected of me that I didn't know what I needed and wanted or said it =
was unimportant.  I have since realized that I am important, and that =
one can be 'nice' to a fault and with serious consequences. =20
   The road has been anything but easy, but with the success I have had =
I cannot dismiss it.  I first took klonopin to relieve panic attacks, as =
I described the leg and foot cramps which came with intense anxiety, =
fear, heavy breathing, and even sweating.  These are the symtoms of =
panic attacks, I believe.  This also describes post-traumatic stress =
disorder. =20
    It is my belief that early childhood trauma--probably before the =
thinking 'head' brain developed--is remembered by the 'gut' brain which =
is trying to express and heal itself.  Recent research has shown that =
childhood trauma can permanently alter brain chemistry.  I believe that =
some unknown trauma in many of us with PD caused the chemical changes =
that resulted in killing substantia nigra cells, which provide part of =
the link between the thinking and reptilian or feeling brains as a means =
of self preservation.  I see 'freezing' episodes as forms of =
dissociation once used by the CNS for self preservation.  The shaking is =
from a deep well of fear or even terror with unknown origin. =20
    I have gone way out on a limb with much of this, but the pieces have =
some support--the limb is the way I have put them together.  I would =
greatly appreciate hearing from anyone who thinks, or especially who =
feels in their gut that this makes sense.  If you experience a kind of =
mental 'a-ha' and even a brief moment of greater wholeness and less =
anxiety on reading this; or if the idea is terrifying to read or think =
about, it has struck a responsive chord not of my doing.  I would like =
to hear from you. =20
  =20
Very best wishes,
Rich Morelli

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Date:         Fri, 26 Jan 1996 01:30:45 -0500
Reply-To:     Parkinson's Disease - Information Exchange Network
              <PARKINSN@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sender:       Parkinson's Disease - Information Exchange Network
              <PARKINSN@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
From:         Joyce   Tames <JOYCE44@xxxxxxx>
Subject:      Re: New Member

Hello Jill

Sorry to hear abt Dad.   As caregiver for my wife Joyce who has had PD for 12
years
I can tell you only that everyone is completely different as far as symptoms,
progression, medications and mental attitude.

Some suggestions I can offer to you and Dad would be to (A) seek the best
movement disorder neurologist you can find,   (B) make contact with your
local Parkinson's Foundation to receive both the latest literature and (C) if
Dad is willing, to join a Young (meaning newly diognosed) support group and
finally (D) COME HERE OFTEN TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS related to PD.

BTW,  there is also a caregiver support list separate from this one.

Contact:   Jeffjone@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

for more information


good luck to you and Dad.

Chuck

email    joyce44