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The reality of having Parkinson’s disease is that you have changes in your life that are inevitable, unwanted, and uncommon. Sure everyone has change in their lives, we grow mature, change jobs, enter and exit relationships, retire, age, and a variety of other things. As a society we are accustomed to these kinds of changes and are socially prepared for their appearance in our lives. When you’re part of a society that all has the same kinds of changes, then even though they may add stress, the changes are expected and accepted with a fair amount of ease.
Having said that, let’s examine the following Stress Inventory produced by Doctors Holmes and Rahe. The purpose of this inventory is to investigate the relationship between social readjustment, stress and susceptibility to illness. They found that a person with a score of 200-250 during a one-year period has a 50% chance of developing illness or health change. With a score of 300 or more, a person's chances increase to 80%.
1. Death of a spouse (100)
2. Divorce (72)
3. Marital separation (65)
4. Death of a close family member (63)
5. Personal injury or illness (53)
6. Marriage (50)
7. Marital reconciliation (45)
8. Change in health of family member (44)
9. Pregnancy (40)
10. Gain of new family member (39)
11. Job Change (38)
12. Change in financial status (37)
13. Death of a close friend (36)
14. Increase in arguments with significant other (35)
15. Mortgage or loan of major purchase (home, etc.) (31)
16. Foreclosure of mortgage or loan (30)
17. Change in responsibilities of your job (29)
18. Son or daughter leaving home (29)
19. Trouble with in-laws (29)
20. Outstanding personal achievement (28)
21. Spouse begins or stops work outside the home (26)
22. Revision of personal habits (24)
23. Trouble with boss (23)
24. Change in work hours or conditions (20)
25. Change in residence (20)
26. Change in sleeping habits (16)
27. Change in eating habits (15)
28. Vacation (13)
29. Christmas (12)
30. Minor violations of the law (11)
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0-149 |
no significant problem |
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150-199 |
mild stress |
35% chance of illness |
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200-299 |
moderate stress |
50% chance of illness |
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300+ |
major stress |
80% chance of illness |
If you look at number 5, you see that all persons that suffer from disease start off with a 53 point deficit. Now add to that the likely changes associated with Parkinson’s disease and you see a dramatic difference in their lives.
Most PD patients can begin with the following:
5. Personal injury or illness (53)
8. Change in health of family member (44) (yourself, constantly)
22. Revision of personal habits (24)
26. Change in sleeping habits (16)
27. Change in eating habits (15)
28. Vacation (13)
29. Christmas (12)
That’s a total of 177 – which gives us a 53% chance of illness.
Now for a Parkinson’s patient that is still employed any or all of the following may occur.
11. Job Change (38)
12. Change in financial status (37)
17. Change in responsibilities of your job (29)
24. Change in work hours or conditions (20)
That’s another 124. That leaves us at 301 which gives us a major chance for illness.
On top of that, pick from the rest of the list the things that most people experience at some time those things that have affected you this year and you can see how this disease can be a stress nightmare.
There is hope though. There are many techniques and lots of training available for stress reduction. Exercise, including Yoga is an excellent stress reliever. Additionally, vitamins and minerals exist that can help relieve stress. A note of caution though; check with your Doctor to make sure that any supplements you add to your diet are compatible with your medications.
Another great stress reliever is prayer. Many times I need to sit back and remember that the problems that I have are not always within my control. I am not the master of my fate or the captain of my ship. It’s those times that I need to give it all to God. When things get too overwhelming to handle, life becomes too complicated, and my stress levels begin to rise, it’s then that I need to remember that the opposite of stress is peace. Philippians 4:6-7 tells us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”