Coping With Depression
Coping With Depression After A Parkinson's Diagnosis
When people have a loved one who has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, there are often many emotions that run through their minds. The guilt of being unable to keep the person safe and happy, worry about losing their independence, and eventually the realization that they will not be able to take care of themselves anymore. However, it is important for caregivers to understand that depression is relatively common in those dealing with this diagnosis. Unfortunately, the effects can last years beyond a person's diagnosis which makes managing their health difficult.
It is estimated that between 30 to 50 percent of individuals living with Parkinson's disease exhibit depressive symptoms. This can manifest itself with anger or suicidial thoughts. In addition, this affects the quality of caregiving as caregivers express feelings of guilt and hopelessness which become difficult to deal with.
It is also estimated that nearly 60 percent of people with Parkinson's disease live alone and approximately 20,000 individuals are diagnosed every year in the United States. The fear associated with being able to take care of themselves if they require assistance from others can be overwhelming. Losing independence can be devastating, especially when the person has relied on it so much throughout their life for their identity and self-worth. When a person is diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, they may begin to feel as if they are no longer able to perform the things they had always been able to do. They lose their identity and may feel that they are a burden on others.
There are several symptoms associated with depression including hopelessness, guilt and anger. With Parkinson's disease, people can lose their ability to perform daily tasks along with muscle control. This can be very frightening for a person who has always taken care of themselves without any assistance from anyone else. Even worse than this is the feeling that no one could look after them like you could before your diagnosis. These feelings can often occur suddenly but can be managed with therapy from a health care professional.
Depression after a Parkinson's diagnosis is common and can take years to fully recover from. The first step for caregivers is to understand that their loved one is not 'crazy' and treatment does exist to help manage symptoms. One of the most important things you can do for yourself and your loved one is find someone to talk with about your concerns. You need a space to talk about your fears and worries, so look around for support groups in your area or online. It's also important to get any medication you may need, which may require some extra speaking with your doctor about. In addition, you should also consider taking a vacation to rest and relax.
Lastly, you need to understand that not every day is going to be easy. Some days will be good but others may be difficult. Feeling sad is normal and it is important to give yourself permission to feel upset or angry like you would with any other loss in life. But overall, you will get through this together and the medication coupled with treatments can bring relief that can last a lifetime.
The author of this blog post is Kris McDaniel-Watson, who writes for http://www.medparkinson.org . MedParkinson.org is a leading resource for Parkinson's disease information, offering patients and caregivers the most comprehensive listings of medical providers, plus in-depth articles on topics like depression, anxiety and treatment.
Do you suffer from depression after a Parkinson's diagnosis? The above articles provides a person or family dealing with this common problem with tips for coping and finding support. Kris McDaniel Watson's article offers an overall view of what it is like to live with this chronic illness along with specific ways to find help as both a caregiver and individual living with the disease.
Posted by Alzheimer's Disease Causes and Parkinson's Disease at 4:03 AM No comments: Links to this post
As a caregiver, you are going to want to make sure that you are doing everything you can to keep your loved one safe. Thankfully, new medical technologies have been developed to help with this. The following article discusses some of the available safety products on the market.
- Pendants: This is an item that is placed on a necklace or bracelet and worn around the neck. In some cases, it may be clipped onto clothes. People at high risk for wandering off may benefit from wearing this whenever they leave their homes, even if for a short period of time. They work by emitting an alarm when the person has wandered too far from his or her home. They are also helpful for people that wander at night because they make it possible for you to locate them more quickly when they do.
- GPS: These units have become one of the most popular solutions to wandering issues in seniors. They are worn on the wrist and emit a signal anytime the person wearing them is moving, even if he or she does not want to be found. The GPS feature can be set up so that you will be notified if your loved one wanders beyond a certain distance from his or her house, vehicle, or selected location.
- Stun guns: People who may be at risk of wandering off or wandering at night often find the best way to prevent the problem is to keep them from getting out. The stun gun is a safety product that you can use on your loved one to prevent him or her from leaving the house and also works very well at preventing wandering because it sends a high voltage current that can be felt and heard. If they are able to get away, they will return briefly before the stun gun sends another strong shock and they will soon return home.
- Alarms: These alarms are designed for individuals with dementia and work similarly to a security system for an apartment building, triggering an alarm sound whenever someone comes near the person's bedroom or bathroom door.
- Sensors: These devices are placed in various areas throughout the home, monitoring for any movement. When the person gets too close to the edge of a bed, sinks or bathtub, or is moving toward something dangerous like a stovetop, you will be notified immediately.
- Door alarms: One of the most common accidents that lead to injury for elderly people with dementia is falling out of bed. This concern can be addressed by placing alarms on their doors that will sound whenever the door opens.
In addition to these products, it's important to make sure you have smoke alarms and extinguishers in your home. The location of all emergency exits should also be clearly marked.
Conclusion
Your home is an important place to keep safe and secure. The products mentioned above can help you to do this, are easy to use, and will allow you peace of mind.
Posted by Alzheimer's Disease Causes and Parkinson's Disease at 9:58 AM No comments: Links to this post
Caregivers often find it difficult to adjust their lifestyle when taking on the role of a primary caregiver for someone with dementia or Parkinson's disease. They may need some support in adjusting to their life changes. This article will help you figure out how your new lifestyle can improve as a caregiver for someone with a chronic illness.
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Coping With Depression