“Shame derives its power from being unspeakable.” – Brene Brown. As a co-facilitator of a support group and support community for people with Parkinson’s, I see that one of the most difficult aspects for anyone participating, is to disclose personal difficulty. Whatever we may be dealing with, there may be a significant fear of judgement…
Today, I need to share something about how appalled I am at our Conservative Government. I was shocked, recently, by a decision affecting my mother’s care. Our Conservative Government and Conservative Local Authority, continues to make the rich in our society richer, while cutting back vital support for the poor and disabled. Our Prime Minister…
At the end of each day, before I eventually sleep, I like to reflect over what I achieved that day. Today, while doing some reflective thinking, I realised something about what I achieved yesterday. I wonder if you will identify with this? I went to work to meet with my clients. I didn’t actually leave…
Identity is a significant subject for people living with a chronic health disease/illness or disability. For some, the chronic health problem or disability is with them from birth. In those cases the person’s identity, as being someone living with a chronic health problem or disability, is more likely to be formed earlier in life. Here,…
Something that I have become aware of, since being diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease, is that there is nobody in my life to teach me how to ‘do’ Parkinson’s Disease! Throughout my life there have been my parents, family, friends, neighbours, colleagues, employers, trainers and people I know/knew to learn from and emulate. Today,…
Many people with Parkinson’s Disease will, at some point, experience depressive feelings or even full Depression. The treatment for Depression is not an exact science. Treatment options around the world vary from talking therapies, alternative and complementary therapies through to the use of prescribed medication. In the Western world, a combination of talking therapies and…
Surviving the loss of a loved one, who took their own life through suicide, has a number of complexities that the natural death of a loved one, may not necessarily have. Some, or all, of the following responses are common: Shock Frustration Anger Disbelief Denial Helplessness Fixating on the imagined, or known, image of the…
The tourists have left, children are back at school, farmers have almost completed their harvests and, to be found in fields around most villages, plump pumpkins add a warm orange glow to the landscape. Here, in the beautiful English county of Suffolk, people are soaking up the occasional warm days left over from summer, stocking up on…
I have been reflecting, today, on the subject of community. I would recommend to anyone who may be feeling isolated, in some way disconnected from their local community or simply just in need of distraction, to consider visiting local venues of interest. A museum, for example, can help us to feel connected to our local…
Here in the UK, at the end of 2015, a landmark new law came into effect that criminalises the act of Psychological Abuse perpetrated against a Spouse, Partner or Family Member. This is a major step forward in addressing the broader problem of Domestic Abuse where, historically, Domestic Abuse was only considered to be physical…