Anxiety or dealing with real life problems?

[Lionore]

I’m 8 years post dx, 75 year old female still mostly independent. If I was assessing myself like I did as a geriatric social worker I would say that very little has changed. Yet I can feel the progression. I move a lot slower, I decline opportunities to socialize if it’s in the afternoon when my energy is depleted. Evening events? Forget it! I drive locally, avoid freeways or tricky left turns, park where I can pull forward to leave instead of backing out. My partner has been doing the heavy cleaning and maintenance for years. I still cook, shop, plan meals, clean up some, walk, do a little yoga. What is concerning is my increased anxiety. I’m especially afraid of being alone when he visits his family a three hour plane ride away, especially in the winter. We’ve had too many power outages in recent years and alone, I’m not going to deal with our portable generator and I’m petrified of being without heat for days, scared to drive on icy roads, family all far away. I’m really scared of falling on the ice.I will travel with him to his family who live in a warm climate but I’m embarrassed to be so emotionally fragile to be afraid of being alone. That’s not me, yet it is me. Is it the PD that makes me so anxious or just being almost 76 with other chronic conditions? Stressing about this isn’t helping. I don’t take medication for anxiety, trying prayers, therapy and support. Thanks HU!

[dentonpark]

God bless

[MBAnderson]

I think your anxiety is the PD. Many pwp share your feelings. I do.

I don't have any suggestions, except to confront your fragilities head on.

I'm in FL and my wife just returned to St. Paul, MN for 10 days. leaving me and our dog, Margaret, to fend for ourselves. I consider Margaret a great companion who I am sure reduces my anxiety. Ever consider getting a dog?

Have you considered a generator that is connected to your gas, goes on automatically when the electricity goes off and covers the whole house, i.e., refrigerator, furnace, lights, etc.?

A dog and a generator - that's all I got.

Marc

[Lionore in reply to MBAnderson]

Thanks for the great suggestions! I’m absolutely ok alone, just not without heat so my partner and I will travel together to Florida soon. Being alone with no power in warmer weather no problem! You’re right ; it’s the PD that gets my mind racing. I was reading about the horrible blizzard in Buffalo where some did die in their cold homes. I’m in Philly area where we don’t usually get those extreme events. Miss having cats! Don’t laugh; watching videos of people petting purring cats is incredibly calming, as is donating to rescue groups.

[Pixelpixie]

there are some natural supplements that may assuage the anxiety. ConsumerLab.com is a reliable resource. Hope it helps

[enjoy2013]

Dear Lionore,

I write to you as a pwPD, but with my physician’s past.

I may have missed something, and maybe you should tell us where you are precisely in the US. In the meantime I am not overly concerned with the thoughts you shared.

I find them reasonable and intelligent. They make sense, don’t they? Why don’t you share your fears with your partner and look for a solution together. We are just in January so we still have significant winters weeks ahead, and this is maybe also the right time to emphasise that your disability has worsened. Plus I would also schedule an appointment with your family doctor to give him the opportunity to help you. Surely, he will be able to give a local expert opinion - that will help him to know if your anxiety is fair or not.

Could your PD contribute? In theory, absolutely. BUT. From far away, and without knowing you, to me, it’s not PD. In spite of the slowness, caution, fatigue, anxiety symptoms, where is stiffness, tremor, “unable to cook”, any fine movement loss, difficulty turning in bed, your voice, shuffling gait, posture, loss of the swinging arm ? But I leave it to your personal doctor.

With regards to your PD that might be progressing, are you using any of the strategies people discuss on this forum to tackle disease progression?

In the meantime, I strongly suggest you stop any avoidance behaviour. Go out, meet people, do whatever you can. USE IT or LOOSE IT. That’s how a plastic brain works. Brain functions you don’t use will disappear. Rather than PD progression, this could be the cause of what you are going through.

Do things at a pace you feel safe, challenge yourself and you might be surprised.

It’s worthy, as many times in PD, what we lose is the capacity to do things automatically, but the function itself is still there. It’s hard to make it work but if you don’t try…

Also, if you have the possibility, check your sleep as bad sleep caused by PD, RLS, age and anxiety can worsen PD very significantly and anxiety!

Good luck

[Lionore in reply to enjoy2013]

Thanks for your suggestions. I’ve been incredibly fortunate in that my PD hasn’t yet left me disabled more than others my age. Dopamine levels fluctuate during the day but I can still function. I think that it was a bad idea to read too much about the blizzard in Buffalo or any disaster for that matter. I’ve been able to make small, seemingly insignificant changes that help a lot, like having my partner install grab bars, tossing unsafe shoes and replacing with sturdy comfortable ones . Each adaptation, however is another sign of the inevitable. It’s a blow to my ego but loss is happening to all of us. BTW I’m in PA.

[Stillstandingstill]

I have fought irrational anxiety for a long time now. Perhaps it was my first symptom. It's certainly my most disabling one! It's possible that a part of the brain called the amygdala is affected in those of us with this issue. Shrinking my life hasn't eased the anxiety as I will always find something else to worry about. I don't always win, but I try and ignore the voice of doom and walk into the imagined danger even when I am convinced I am going to die. Anxiety has stolen a lot from me in terms of my career and friends, but now I can identify it, it's lost a little of its power. There is no quick fix but calling it out and rationalising my fears combined with relaxation and breathing exercises help me. All the best to you. You aren't alone. Remember that it takes courage to function when your brain is setting off alarm bells.

[Wifey4U]

Your self description matches my own! I am overwhelmed with fear and anxiety, my activities are self-limited and I am so terribly alone since the death of my spouse. I have developed A-fib, the stress and loneliness take a toll. I pray. Shall try to learn deep breathing and meditation. Maybe this is what happens as we age ?

[Lionore in reply to Wifey4U]

in my experience as a social worker, anxiety was very common especially for older adults with or without PD whether living alone or with a partner. My spiritual practice usually keeps me centered but an unexpected stressor can clearly knock me off center. My partner and I have worked out a solution to my very reasonable concern about the effects of severe weather should I be alone; we travel together in the winter. Still no matter how I try to avoid problems s$&t happens. Acceptance and gratitude really help!

[Wifey4U in reply to Lionore]

This is Texas; 80 degrees one day 20 next with a 40mph wind. Unusual for December here. My A-fib diagnosed Nov 1st. Was healthy 79 til then. Big surprise.

[Stillstandingstill in reply to Lionore]

Quite right to address issues with practical solutions. It's the irrational ones that are harder to manage. I have seen anxiety develop in people as they age. Mine is a particular problem as I'm only 52.

[willowone123]

I take .25 MG alprazalam (xanax) per day. Helps me

[chartist]

I think, Marc's ideas are perfect!

I think you have very legitimate reasons for feeling anxious under those circumstances, even if you didn't have PD! The thought of being stuck due to a power outage likely means you may not be able to drive either due to severe weather conditions. It would make most people very anxious to know that there is a significant possibility of being stuck alone with no heat in the dead of winter with roads that may be impossible to drive!

Art

[bassofspades]

Notice that you're thinking about what if?

If you are depressed, you are living in the Past. If you are anxious, living in the future. If you are at peace you are living in the moment. – Lao Tzu

I don't know how much this is going to help you, but when you notice you're getting anxious, focus on the right now stuff. Feel your feet on the ground. Consciously take a few slow deep breaths and feel them going in and out. Think about how much you are ok RIGHT NOW and how you have been ok for quite some time despite the repeated bouts of anxiety.

Hope that helps. I suffered from unfounded anxiety for years. It's really hard to get on top of it but still try. I am doing much better now. That's all I did, right there. No drugs no supplements.

[bassofspades in reply to bassofspades]

A good dog can help too!

[ddmagee1]

anxiety! I’m your age and feel the same way! I have fallen on the ice many times. I got ice pick chains that go over shoes, so now I can walk on ice. My Doc gave me subscription for anxiety, but I take medicine sparingly! Good luck!

[Ropadopa]

I, too, developed anxiety and it wreaked havoc with my PD meds. I was prescribed Lexipro but didn’t like the idea of adding more chemicals that would alter my senses. I was told that I was at the max dosage for pramipexole and carbidopa/levodopa so adjusting there was a no go. So they prescribed an injectable called Apokyn. It’s a drug that you take as needed to ease the effects of those off times. You can use it up to 4 times a day. I tried it for 4 months and at first, at the lower dosage, the only side effects I had were irritation at the injection sites. But as the dosage was increased so were the side effects. When I started having trouble with my heart rate I called it quits and went the self-care route of meditation and mindfulness. My resting heart rate went back to the low 70’s from the 125+ range. I have a MIRROR in my home gym and one of the many programs available on the MIRROR is meditation. I started with the beginner-level and am loving it. One thing I’m learning about my PD is there’s a lot of talk about all the research going into finding a cure but it seems like these big foundations are big on fundraisers and six figure salaries for management employees rather than putting the majority of funds raised into focusing on a cure rather than all of the PWP living a drug driven existence.

[Lionore in reply to Ropadopa]

I’m with you about adding more medication. As Rumpelstiltzkin says, magic always comes with a price. I’m determined to up my exercise this year and make meditation a daily priority..

[Nuthatcher]

Hello! Wow what a great resource with the responses you have gotten. I am also experiencing anxiety for the first time in my life. I find it is much worse when I am on OFF time. I do almost all of what has already been suggested here with one addition, I check to see how long it has been since I took my meds. If I am overdue or almost due to take them I take them and wait for them to kick in. Then when I am sure it isn’t just a lack of medication I will will deal with the anxiety in the best way I can. I’m a Christian and I have found these daily meditations called: “ENCOUNTER“ that are very helpful. Trying to be mindful of the present helps. I have a prescription for.25mgs of Xanex but I have only taken it twice, both times as a preventive because I knew I was walking into a stressful situation. I am careful with it because I know my anxiety is related to my PD and off time and I don’t want to take something else when what I really need is levadopa. I, like you, have never been an anxious person and it is not who I want to be. I think that’s good because it makes us want to fight it and not just give in. Do all the practical things to take care of the real areas of concern and learn some new ways to deal with the feelings. You are not alone.

[Lionore in reply to Nuthatcher]

Agreed! I’ve learned to never be without my c/l even if driving a short distance and expecting to be home we’ll before the next scheduled dose. Also to have water to wash it down.

[katherinecompton22]

I'm 70. My increase in anxiety (and depression) started in earnest 1 and 1/2 years ago, 5 years post diagnosis, and that was on Lexapro! Distressing news would send me into a tailspin, driving in our city caused panic attacks and I was, and continue to be, the primary caregiver of a spouse with Lewy Body Dementia. After much trial and error, I'm minimizing my off time as much as possible, which has helped a lot. In the past several months I've increased exercise, started deep breathing exercises, begun volunteering at an animal shelter, stopped drinking coffee, even decaf, and intentionally tried to eat more and eat more frequently to counter a 13 lb weight loss. I traded my older Buick sedan for an SUV with higher seats, lane change alarms, etc. All of these measures have helped, but I believe I was enabled to do these things by starting weekly acupuncture in early October with an experienced practitioner. I felt validated after seeing results of a Chinese study published in JAMA in Sept 2022 regarding the efficacy of 8 weeks of acupuncture in the treatment of Parkinson's related anxiety. The study was blinded by the use of a "sham" procedure in the control group. Both groups reported decreased anxiety symptoms during the treatment phase, but the group receiving active treatment still reported improvement at 6 months out. My depression and anxiety (and internal tremors) have lessened by at least 50%.

[Nuthatcher in reply to katherinecompton22]

that is very interesting. I also have the depression and internal tremors along with the anxiety. Do either of you get really cold and yawn a lot when you are having the OFF time? I wonder if my blood pressure is dropping. Where did you find the acupuncture therapist?

[katherinecompton22 in reply to Nuthatcher]

I live in Austin, TX. He was referred by a friend, has practiced since the mid 80's. He is a DAOM.L>Ac

[FawnLily]

i too have more anxiety about driving now that I have PD especially at night and in bad weather and on the freeway. It has helped getting a new car with all the bells and whistles- sensors and cameras. I try not to let the anxiety keep me at home tho. I get more anxious if i have passengers. But I successfully drove 4 of my friends on new year’s day to dinner 30min away at night and on the freeway! I have to keep pushing out of my comfort zone.

My MDS told me to take a dose of c/l at night if i am out late and need to drive. It helps. You can also chew it if you don’t have water - immediate release c/l only.