{"id":35159,"date":"2023-11-21T10:08:28","date_gmt":"2023-11-21T09:08:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/parkinsonfonds.nl\/?page_id=35159"},"modified":"2025-08-05T14:04:26","modified_gmt":"2025-08-05T12:04:26","slug":"parkinson-and-stress","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/parkinsonfonds.nl\/en\/daily-life\/parkinson-and-stress\/","title":{"rendered":"Parkinson and stress"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Parkinson and stress<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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A little bit of stress now and then is actually healthy. It keeps us alert and motivated. But persistent, energy-draining stress is best avoided, especially if you have Parkinson\u2019s.<\/p>

The more stress factors you face, the more you\u2019ll experience the physical effects of Parkinson\u2019s: more intense tremors, slower movement, increased pain. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to prevent or reduce stress wherever possible.<\/p>

Make sure to take the advice of Faye Rhodes to heart. This former chair of the Massachusetts chapter of the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) has 11 anti-stress tips for you.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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1. Identify the stress factors in your life<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Some people thrive on adrenaline, while others are happiest spending a quiet evening at home. There are natural-born leaders, and just as many people who prefer to take on a supportive role. One person finds comfort in family, while another runs a mile when they need help or support. In short: everyone is different, and so are our stress triggers.<\/p>

Try to identify what causes you stress and how you feel in those moments. Is it lack of sleep, confusion, frustration? Are you taking on too much responsibility, or do you have too many appointments and obligations? Pay attention to this, and take action!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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2. Cut out the stress<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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As you put together a list of stress factors, you\u2019ll probably notice that some can be eliminated right away. Start by removing the simplest ones from your list. If sleeplessness is triggered by tense, scary or emotional films, avoid them. If coffee leaves you overly jittery, switch to decaf, or cut it out altogether. Sometimes it really is that simple.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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3. No one is indispensable<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Take a closer look at the commitments and appointments you\u2019ve taken on, both professionally and personally. We often tend to believe we\u2019re indispensable. But ask yourself: will the world stop turning if you resign from your job, or if you\u2019re not available as the classroom helper every week?<\/p>

Reflect on whether your relationship gives you enough energy, and whether you\u2019re spending your time on something you\u2019re truly passionate about. Are your choices driven by your own desires, or by the expectations of others? These are important questions to gain clarity on.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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4. Don\u2019t hesitate to ask for help<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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When evaluating your situation or setting goals, it\u2019s perfectly okay to seek support from a coach, a professional advisor, or a friend. Break tasks down into smaller steps, achieving a series of small wins can keep you motivated to keep going. Many people also find that meditation helps them manage stress more effectively.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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5. Make time for leisure<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Schedule downtime. Prioritise moments of recovery. What helps you unwind? Meeting up with friends, reading a book, going for a walk? Whatever it is, make it a priority. Relax and enjoy it.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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6. Get moving and eat well<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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You can take it step by step. Start with a walk, there\u2019s no need to spend hours at the gym. Eat more fruit and vegetables, and try to avoid caffeine as much as possible.<\/p>

Set realistic goals when it comes to diet and exercise. You\u2019ll have a much better chance of making real progress than those who start off too ambitiously.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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7. No control? No worries!<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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It\u2019s inevitablek, you can\u2019t control everything, and sometimes all you can do is your very best. Keeping this in mind is especially helpful during stressful moments like job interviews, exams, presentations or performances.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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8. Resolve conflicts whenever possible\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Or avoid them altogether, because they drain far too much energy.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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9. Sleep as much as you can<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Admittedly, this isn\u2019t always easy for people with Parkinson\u2019s. But it is important. Try taking one or more naps during the day, a power nap can work wonders.
If sleeping through the night is difficult, there are tips available to help you manage sleep disturbances.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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10. Try to see change as a positive challenge<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Try to see life changes as challenges, opportunities to grow and support your personal development. You may not be able to control your circumstances or the behaviour of others, but you can<\/em> control your own mindset. And that mindset often makes the difference between being content or frustrated, happy or unhappy. What feels better, for you and for those around you?<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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11. Seize the day\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Appreciate each day and try to enjoy it as much as you can.<\/p>

These tips are taken from the article \u2018Limiting Stress\u2019<\/em> by Faye Rhodes. The article was first published in the Spring 2007 issue of the Young Parkinson\u2019s newsletter by the APDA.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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A little bit of stress now and then is actually healthy. It keeps us alert and motivated. But persistent, energy-draining stress is best avoided, especially if you have Parkinson\u2019s. The more stress factors you face, the more you\u2019ll experience the physical effects of Parkinson\u2019s: more intense tremors, slower movement, increased pain. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"parent":34999,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-35159","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/parkinsonfonds.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/35159","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/parkinsonfonds.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/parkinsonfonds.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parkinsonfonds.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parkinsonfonds.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35159"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/parkinsonfonds.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/35159\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35193,"href":"https:\/\/parkinsonfonds.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/35159\/revisions\/35193"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parkinsonfonds.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/34999"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/parkinsonfonds.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35159"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}