I just explain to them that Parkinson's effects us in so many different ways. No you're not crazy.
I think the more people are educated about Parkinson's it helps them understand more.
I say to myself, "Please be patient, God is not done with me yet."

I can relate to this ....and for me its related to another issue I brought up in a previous question: the "whats wrong" question..The one that drives me nuts. I literally had people asking me this while laying in the bed on Hospice. I mean honestly....But I think we have to view it from their position to some degree..I have facial expression left of course..But id be in denial if i didnt realize that its much more expressionless than it used to be. Its a common PD problem...Family and friends often ask If your ok, say to smile more,ect ect, because its the natural response to someone who appears to have despair on their face. Im also a little slow on response-I understand fine what Im being asked, I even know what I want to say in response-but it takes longer to articulate. I was on a first time visit at a very well known hospital for a clinical trial. The nurse kept doing what I call "baby talking" me- leaning down close, patting my hand , talking to me in a simplistic -demeaning way. As if I was 4 years old. She did this several times. I was tired , hungry , meds wearing off, and it really hit me the wrong way. Finally I motioned her to lean down and I said "I dont know if you've read my chart, but I'm 45, not 5" ....But really, they want to help, and are responding to what appears to be distress on our face.-They have to ask each time as they simply cant guess. They are doing te natural thing and dont want to see us sad-they feel like there is something the should try to do to help it. But smiling on que simply looks faked and forced...I think that really we have a obligation to explain the masked emotion, and others have a obligation to try to understand it ..I have told my family that if something is "wrong" Ill let them know. That trying to read it in my face is just not something they can reliably do anymore. Its a cruel part of the disease really-in that it takes that most basic thing from you being able to express without words the affection or love you have for a loved one without words...So I found it more important than ever to tell those around me I care about them or that Im happy or smiling by simply saying "im smiling inside" ,,,,I do this with my son alot , and he gets it, No its not replacement for expressions but it helps.

Hi,
My husband always thinks I'm in a bad mood, mad, or upset about something when I'm perfectly fine. My neurologist called it masking and said it's a symptom of pd. I had to make my husband understand it was the disease and not him or anything elss.

Others haven't walked a mile in the shoes of a Parkinson's patient or the caregiver's for that matter. They don't understand the struggles. I thank God for those who are just there for us no matter what!

I miss him laughing often.