What is a symptom? According to Merriam-Webster Online, a symptom is “subjective evidence of disease or physical disturbance; broadly : something that indicates the presence of bodily disorder.”
We all should be able to agree that symptoms are evidence of disease, but they are not the disease in and of themselves…they are the “something that indicates the presence of bodily disorder.” So, although the symptoms of Parkinson’s are unpleasant and can prevent you from doing some of the things you would like to be doing, you have nothing to fear from your symptoms.
If you have nothing to fear from your symptoms, then where does all of your fear of your symptoms come from? 1. What you were told when you were diagnosed and what you read on the Internet; and 2. Lack of understanding what is occurring…”if symptoms appear worse, I must be getting worse.” This is where many people tell me their fear comes from. Here is why this is not the case.
Let’s suppose you have been doing the Parkinson’s Recipe for Recovery® for a while. Your sense of smell has returned, constipation is under control, and on most days you feel like you have pretty good energy. In fact, you are doing so well that when your kidneys encounter a blockage in the kidney meridian, they contact the brain and this takes conversation takes place:
The Plan:
Kidneys: Hi brain. We have detected a major blockage in our meridian and we need more energy to break it open.
Brain: How much energy do you need?
Kidneys: 90% of the available energy in this body.
Brain: I cannot give you 90% of the available energy in this body. Symptoms will go haywire if there is only 10% of the available energy to tend to them and keep them in check.
Kidneys: Here is how we see it. If you give us 90% of the available energy in this body to open up this major blockage, the body will be low on energy for a couple of days, but after that, we will be able to provide you 10 times the amount of energy we are borrowing. The body then will be soaring with energy and recovery will go more smoothly.
Brain: Sounds like a plan. Let’s do it.
The Result:
When the brain gives the kidneys 90% of the available energy in the body to open this major blockage in the kidney meridian, here is what the body feels for a couple of days: tremors out of control, severe rigidity, extreme slowness, major fatigue, and pain in the lower back that feels like somebody has been using the kidneys for a bunching bag. And, for those on medications, the possibility that some of the dosages simply do not “kick in.”
The FEAR:
FEAR (you all know this one): False Evidence Appearing Real! What Appears Real when you are facing the result listed above is that something dreadfully wrong is happening with your Parkinson’s. This is where FEAR takes over; some people stop doing what they were doing (the Recipe), and some people run to the doctor to have this terribleness remedied. However, if you can remain calm, take a deep breath, and you can look at The Plan listed above, then you know it is False Evidence to think that anything bad is happening. In fact, something wonderful is happening. So, the end result for those lacking faith in themselves, their Higher Power and the Recipe is FEAR — False Evidence Appearing Real — and they get off of the recovery path.
The Faith:
FAITH (you all know these three):
Feeling Alive In The Heart.
Feeling Awake In The Heart.
Feeling Aware In The Heart.
Faith says, “what is occurring is just my experience in the moment and it will pass.” After a couple of days when it passes and the tremors settle down, and the rigidity subsides, and the slowness speeds up, and the fatigue turns into high levels of energy, and the pain in the lower back disappears, and your medications work as they did before, you smile to yourself and say, “I am happy I surrendered having to know why things are happening, and I am happy I chose faith. In retrospect, I clearly can see that I had nothing to fear, and to the extent that I had a little fear, it turned out to be False Evidence Appearing Real. I am really happy I did not give in to the fear.”
If you have faith in yourself, faith in your Higher Power, and faith in the Recipe, then you absolutely have nothing to fear. Remember, a symptom is nothing more than something indicating the existence of something else. If you are doing the Recipe, your symptoms are nothing more than an indication that you have more work to do in your recovery. That’s all!
Please know this: recovery is not just a destination…it is a journey. You are recovery in each moment of the journey. Since you have to move through this recovery slowly, why not enjoy the sights, explore the things you used to miss because you were moving too quickly to notice, and accept that Parkinson’s is temporary.
Fear and FEAR are not real. They are in your mind, simply your imagination running rampant into a non-existent unpleasant future. Faith is real. It is in your heart and soul — it is a part of who you are. Be the best you that you can be by looking inside yourself, grabbing a huge amount of faith, and telling your Parkinson’s that its days are numbered.
A symptom is nothing more than something indicating the existence of something else. The something else is Parkinson’s, and you are doing the Recipe and recovering from Parkinson’s. You have nothing to fear with the symptoms or the Parkinson’s. You are recovery.
You are worth it!!!
All my best,
Howard
Thank you Howard. The example dialogue between the brain and kidneys is a great explanation of the Plan. This describes the ups and downs of symptoms. Remaining vigilant against FEAR by practicing FAITH is the key for me and my fellow warriors…we must stay strong. We can do it!
Very helpful Howard!
Very helpful explanation too, especially since lately I have been experiencing more pain.
Thanks again for taking the time to help all of us
Totally beautiful description of our amazing recovery journey. I join hands with you all as we surf through it. We are doing it each moment. I am so grateful to heal all levels of myself.
Thanks Howard for your time explaining very much appreciated. 8 months 6 days now doing the recipe. I’m now putting in more time doing the recovery on top of what I’m doing already, symptoms have increased, walking is out of synch but at least I can walk, slight back pain in morning, occasionally headaches before bed but otherwise doing great. Sleeping a good 7 hours a night and my Digestive symptom is working well, the best it’s been in years. I will beat this, how ever long it takes as I have nothing to lose and every thing to gain. I will recover to tell the world.
Love to everyone, Rick from Australia
Howard thank you for your help , that explanation relieves a lot.
Dear Howard,
This is a very useful angle to assess and accept worsening symptoms!
Many thanks and love to all, Alison from Paris
Thank you Howard for the timely reminder. I have had all the sudden change of symptoms you describe. However if for me they only lasted a few days rather than the weeks they have. 8 months 2 weeks down the road. Still on the horse. My love to all.xx
Wonderful explained, thanks again dear Howard!!!!
Thank you Howard, I was thinking this was true, but then my monkey mind and the negative pictures that run through that dangerous neighborhood create FEAR. IT IS SO HELPFUL to have someone like you to take me by the hand and lead me back to my heart and spirit. I catch my breath and feel confident that I am on the right path.
Pamela
Thank you Howard! My inner child is laughing loud because reading the dialogue between the brain and the kidneys somehow I imagine a story for children! Lol! My inner child apparently needs this because my fear is created by my inner child not the adult! I know that fear is not real!!
Question from the adult 🙂 … What dialogue takes place in my body? given that …
My increased symptoms are very persistent and are constant …. I wish I only had increased symptoms for two days … and I have no discomfort around my kidneys, only my gluteal muscles!
Much love to all from both of us LOL!
Thank you for the blog and the example dialogue between the brain and kidneys is a great explanation of the dialogue that I have between my brain and my body on certain days when I experience low energy and my movements slows down and stiffness increases. However, FAITH in the recipe pulls me up the next day and my movements improve with less stiffness. I am on the right path to recovery.
Thank you Howard for infusing us with faith,
with strength, with tenacity, with courage and with love. Your words of wisdom always illuminate my view of the world positively.
Bless you dear coach. Happy end of summer to all.
Thank you Howard for your inspiration and kindness. I particularly liked what you said: remember “Parkinsons is temporary.” Thank you Helen
Hi. GOD bless you, Howard. Thank you for the timely ymessage.
Thank you! I just started the Recipe today. I am full of hope and faith in my recovery! I truly believe God will heal me and that he lead me to your recipe.
Love going out to everyone on this journey! ❤
Hi dear Howard and everybody!
I am Maria from Canada, confirmed PD in March 2020. 64 now, no meds, just proper diet and some vitamins.
Dear Howard, I read your book month ago, from the beginning to the end with no breaks and I am full of hope and positive attitude now. Thank you so much! Doing recipe every day, more or less, feel better, especially emotionally. My main symptoms – tremor and pain on left hand and some on leg, mood changes, used to be constipation and sleep disorders. I carefully read and enjoy all your posts and members replies and I can feel how strong and motivated community is here!
All of us are heroes and we will win this battle sooner or later!
God bless and love all of you!
Hello everyone!
I was diagnosed on July 27 this year. My neuro was so flat and hopeless. I was devastated. After a couple days of crying and praying, I got mad and picked myself up to fight Parkinson’s! I joined a couple of PD groups on Facebook (they’re generally awful). Someone mentioned Howard’s name in a comment, and I found hope!
I read Howard’s book and the Recipe hard copy. Now I’m thinking about coaching. I also have ADHD, and I’m finding it hard to keep everything straight and be consistent. Also, I’m not sure I’m doing the movements and sounds correctly.
Thanks for listening. I look forward to saying “when I HAD Parkinson’s”!
Thank you , Howard, and fellow warriors. Great wisdom. FAITH trumps FEAR every time!