Every now and again an issue will come up on a number of coaching calls in the same week, so I write about it because if that many people are raising the issue with me, then there are probably many others facing the same issue. The question: “How do I keep a good attitude when the symptoms are increasing?”
My feeling about this is rather simple: If you are doing the Parkinson’s Recipe for Recovery® then you are getting better on the inside. Your body is low on energy, so as it is putting more energy toward healing you on the inside, there is less energy to hold your symptoms in check, so they increase temporarily.
Here is what I did. I looked at the increased symptom and said:
“I know that the energy is being used for a healing inside me so my symptom is temporarily increased. Thank you for the healing. I am not going to worry about this today. I will see how it is tomorrow.”
By saying this, I removed worry and fear in the moment because “I will see how it is tomorrow” did not allow worry and fear. The nice thing about Parkinson’s is that by the time the next day arrived, some other symptom was bothering me and the one from the day before had improved, so I repeated the same thing with whatever was the temporarily increased symptom that was bothering me.
As always, the critical component here is repetition. You have to repeat it again and again and again, each day, with every temporarily increased symptom. First, the statement is true, a healing is occurring and there is nothing to worry about. Second, by pushing the “worry and fear” to the next day, you not only remove negative thoughts, but you enhance the healing by not blocking it with negative energy.
That’s it!
You are worth it!!!
All my best,
Howard
Dear Howard,
Lovely direction. Helps me to trust my body that knows what it needs to do to heal. Today I decide again to set aside the worried ego mind.
Love to all fellow recovery warriors. We are amazing.
Anne, Portland, Oregon USA
And you are amazing too Anne.
Big love, Karen 💕
This reminds me of the zazen practice of following your breath and continually returning to it whenever you notice you’ve been distracted.
And in reminding me of Zen practice, it reminds me of what this Recipe practice is all about: nudging my worrying and anxious mind out of the way and gently creating space for my loving soul to take over and breathe a healthy life into my body.
Peace and comfort to all,
Chris
Chris you always sound so positive about your healing, it’s infectious. I also love that you are so supportive of other warriors here.
Big love, Karen 💕
Howard – you are just amazing, so glad you’re in our camp!!!! If I didn’t know this about temporarily increased symptoms, I would be so worried. Instead as I enjoyed my beautiful walk around the park with my little dog Thor this morning, I realized this walk took only 20 minutes instead of the 45minutes it took me over a year ago!!! Yayy!!!!!
Go Margaret, that is amazing progress, you must be delighted with yourself. Thor will soon be getting extra walks. 😊
Big Love, Karen 💕
Hi Howard, lovely post and so true. I am still on Parkinson’s drugs, two that don’t contain levodopa, but they still have nasty side effects. Occasionally I get palpitations which are really scary. When it happens I have learned to go inside and focus on my breath and do abdominal breathing, which makes such a difference as I used to get myself in such a state thinking I was having a heart attack. It also makes me so determined to get off the drugs and align and allow my perfect health to manifest. Reading here from so many warriors how well they are doing is wonderful and inspirational. I think we are very close to our No.7 😊. Remember warriors “with God all things are possible“ 😇.
Big love to all, Karen 💕xx
Hi Karen,
So glad you are staying positive. Wishing you all the best. I read the blog and comments to my mother all the time, hoping it will ease her worrying. Thank you for the inspiration.
Hello Howard,
Another wonderful encouraging post.
It makes so much sense, to both my husband and I, that the energy is drawn on healing the inside and the source of the symptoms. It is much like a pot of water that boiling over. Rather than cover it with a lid to reduce the boil, you would want to put your attention on the actual flame to reduce the heat.
Thank you so much. You have given my husband so much encouragement and willpower, he is optimistic and very persistent with his exercises. He has refused all PD drugs and nothing gets in the way of his daily routine of his exercises for recovery.
I have refused all PD drugs as well (five years since diagnosis) and have seen myself get worse and worse, to the point where I can hardly walk and have almost completely lost my balance. I suffer violent retropropulsions among other symptoms. I have been doing the Recipe as best I can for nine months and I still have faith in it, despite showing no obvious improvements. But I find it hard to differentiate between a temporary escalation of symptoms and Parkinson’s outrunning and outgunning me. Howard’s explanation makes sense to me. And a miracle could happen any day, to any one of us.
Thank you Howard for your attention and inspiration. I have had some increase in symptoms. I keep your thoughts and words in my daily rounds trusting my soul, mind and body have the power to heal myself. To my fellow warriors I send best regards. Blessings and love,
Dianna from Wyoming