"The moment I received my official diagnosis, I dropped all my assumptions about Parkinson's. It was so freeing." -Member of MyParkinsonsTeam

Living with Parkinson's can be difficult and even a burden, but also an opportunity to rid yourself of what you think you know. Have you heard the saying, "People don't get it until they get it"?
That is so true about Parkinson's.

"The more I learn about Parkinson's, the more I realize that it's not my fault." -Member of MyParkinsonsTeam

A Parkinson's diagnosis forces us to drop our negative assumptions about life with a chronic condition. Members on MyParkinsonsTeam gain perspective from other members' experiences to become better informed about what it's really like to live with Parkinson's.

Here are recent conversations from members of MyParkinsonsTeam:

• "You can live happily if you have a good attitude. Michael has a new 'normal' now but he can be happy. He will learn but it takes time to accept Parkinson's Disease."
• "I was just diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, so I am still trying to wrap my mind around it, learning to readjust. I had just retired a year ago, now my plans and life are in limbo."
• "I’m learning that I have to do some form of exercise every single day, preferably in the morning. There is no exercise bank where I can save up, generate credit, and withdraw a little whenever I need it. Like it or not, Parkinson’s is an in-the-moment, pay-as-you-go condition. It’s not going anywhere so I guess I’ll keep trying to learn to like it."

What negative assumptions have you let go of about Parkinson's? Tell us about it in the comments below or directly on MyParkinsonsTeam.com.