Writing As Parkinson's Therapy
Happy first day of Parkinson's Awareness Month. Happy April Fool's Day. Make whatever connection you like.
A few weeks ago I was talking with some of my fellow bloggers about our writing process. I mentioned that I do everything in longhand first. You can see my blog notebook in the above picture. They seemed surprised but it works for me on a couple of levels.
It gives me an extra chance to do some editing. I can always use that. But it's also therapeutic.
A couple of Parkinson's issues are freezing and handwriting.
The handwriting, I can't do anything about. It's becoming worse but I think by doing this, I can control it a little bit. It's a use it or lose it thing.
The freezing is pretty much what it sounds like. Your body can't move. For me it's in my arms and hands.
I hold a pen with two hands. My left hand grasps my wrist and acts as a guide. That's how I start. After a couple of minutes, I won't need the guide hand.
It's pretty much the same thing as art therapy where the strokes look better and smoother as you go along.
With degenerative diseases, the idea is to keep the parts that work working. That's why exercise is pushed above almost everything else. This is a form of exercise for my hands.
Whatever works!
April is Parkinson's Awareness Month. Before it's over we'll look at Parkinson's and Melanoma, Therapy, DBS, Music, Art and Vendors at charity events. I'd also love to hear your person Parkinson's story.
This was the series I did last years for Parkinson's Awareness Month.
You can be a blog subscriber. Just plug in your email address. No spam, I promise.