In the past year, I have had my daughter and now 2 of my best friends tell me I take too many drugs. After being diagnosed with Early Onset Parkinson's 7 years ago, I began this news thinking I would conquer the world and hide it from my students and colleagues. Fast forward to now, and I have just been approved for Social Security Disability.
What has been disheartening for me, is the fact that my family and friends who are judging me, haven't researched what has happened to me over the past seven years and expect to see the same person they have always known. Because I sometimes appear slightly intoxicated, especially in the evening, when my medication is wearing off, I must be overdosing!
I have a top notch physician, who is the head of the Shands Movement Disorder Learning Division for University of Florida. He monitors every drug I take and I have been under his care since almost the beginning. His top priority for me is to do whatever he can to make my life as normal as possible. And he has done that for me.
My mom has stuck by me and has been there to help me from the very start. She asks my doctor questions about what to expect and isn't shocked at the changes taking place. I left my husband and now live in a small apartment close to my mom. I need to be with people who aren't judgmental and bossy (husband), and take the time to learn more about this disease so that they can help me and not make me feel like I'm some drug addict.
Has anyone else had to face these kind of s situations?