Ask how well they listen and are they open to learning how PD makes you feel and not judge. If not, move on. They know the mind but you know your mind with PD.

I think sometimes it is too hard & scary for some family members to acknowledge the truth that it’s real. It is easier & less painful to deny it or stay on the fringes. I am sorry because we can think they don’t care about us & we need their support. They do care about you & love you more than you know, but possibly are afraid at this time to allow themselves to acknowledge & see the truth of the effects of Parkinson’s. Don’t give up on them & forgive them. “They know not what they do”
Stand strong in Faith & Hope.
Blessings,
Carol

@A MyParkinsonsTeam Member. Hey I hope you have found some relief from your stiff hands. (Wax Machine) Now about your new Psychiatrist & how to communicate how you feel with PD & your needs. My first suggestion is to prepare a list of each of the ways it affects you. She might not be aware of the myriad ways it can hit us & not others. As difficult as it is to explain how you feel & experience the ways you see changes in your thinking, in your depression & anxiety. Be as clear as you can & tell her it’s difficult to put it in words but do your best. Write down the ways you & others have noticed a decline in your memory & other cognitive functions, if this applies to you. If you just feel really bad, & your moods & changes in your behavior. List every way you experience. If she doesn’t really appreciate your notes, tell her it’s very important to you for her to know how it is affecting you, that each PWP is different. Stress the importance to you that she knows the extent of your suffering in body, & mind. She needs to be aware of the whole person, not just depression or anxiety. That’s all you can do is explain the best you can.
Maybe someone else can offer you better suggestions, but this is all I know to do. I welcome anyone ‘s ideas to help all of us learn how to communicate the cognitive impairment in a way they can understand.
I hope your apmt with your new psychiatrist goes well. Let us know If you connected with him & how satisfied you were.
Praying for you buddy
Carol 😊

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A MyParki...

I’ve found that it helps to have some idea ahead of time about what you want to gain from your appointment. It always helps to have supporting notes of how you’ve been feeling before and after you take meds. A few days’ worth of notes with date and time noted can get you off to a good start, assuming the psychiatrist wants to see them. If not, then think seriously about whether this doctor is open to collaborating with you on your care. I’ve known some great doctors who didn’t want to see my prepared notes, but not because they were closed-minded. Instead, they didn’t want to spend time during our initial meeting reading notes at the expense of talking.

How did your visit go David? I hope it went well. I have a therapist who worked with seniors in a nursing home. Some had parkinson's and all were experiencing elements of losing who they once were and the grieving that often accompanies that. I'm not sure my therapist knows much about PD but she is open, honest, listens well and does not judge. She has been a wonderful person to share my fears with and work through the grief that colors my world. She leaves me with ideas and possibilities to ponder and looking forward, not down. She has been really good for me. I hope you find your best person. I never knew how significant my mental health meant to my daily existence. Talk therapy above all else has made a significant difference in my day-to-day life and I'm grateful for that.
Maria.