A Major League Pitcher’s Perspective on Recovery

I interviewed Tom House today on the radio show. The interview is posted here on the radio show member page. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease about five years ago.

Tom has a unique perspective on the “process” of recovery. Note that I used the word “process” not “outcome”. Tom explains that when athletes focus on the “outcome” they want – i.e., winning the game – their performance sinks and they are more likely to lose.

The outcome is not what matters, but the process. Of course you want to see all symptoms dissolve. To make that happen however, the focus needs to be on the present moment activities and behaviors that in the end make that outcome possible.

This is why mindfulness programs are so successful for people with Parkinson’s.  They focus on process rather than outcomes.

Tom is rolling out a new program that sounds interesting to me, but it obviously is the early stages of a roll out. Be on the lookout for future announcements.

Robert

Preview of Resources on the Parkinsons Recovery Member Websites

The purpose of this 3 minute video preview is to provide an overview of the resources I post on the member websites every day. Many of you have joined because of the opportunity to participate in the monthly Parkinsons Recovery Support group. This is only one of the resources that are available to you! Watch the video preview below for a brief overview of the resources that you can now access as a member.

The idea behind memberships is to offer an infusion of positive support and energy for your recovery each and every day and week. I encourage each of you to visit the member websites every weekday.

Tremors are an Asset for Alan Babbitt – Not a Liability

I genuinely enjoyed interviewing Fine Art Photographer and Musician Alan Babbitt this week on Parkinsons Recovery Radio. As I report during the interview, I never get tired of seeing one of Alan’s images which appears on the cover of my book Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease. Since I have been updating the book over the past 4 months, I have seen the image at least 5 times a day! It really is a stunning image. I am so glad I bought the rights to use it as the cover of my book.

Even if you are not a photographer or musician I encourage you to take an hour out of your day to hear my interview with Alan. He offers rich insights on how he has maintained a vibrant, healthy lifestyle. Best of all, Alan does not view his own tremor as a liability but as an asset to his photography. He also offers a compelling discussion of how he reversed his own depression.

To hear the interview, click on the radio show page icon which, as you know, appears down the right hand column of this page. The replay is posted at the top of the member Radio Show page since I just aired the program this week.

Robert

20% Member Discount for the Download of Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease

Download of the 2017 update of my book Road to Recovery from Parkinsons Disease is now available. I set up a coupon code for a 20% discount for the download version of the book just for members. It is valid through the end of this month – May.  For information about the 2017 update to my book , visit: http://www.parkinsonsdisease.me

To qualify for the 20% member discount, enter the code “member2017” – no quotes – on the coupon code field of the shopping cart. The order link is on the website above.

It has been 3 years since the last revision of my book. I must report I have been awed and overwhelmed by the new ideas and new revelations for recovery that I have identified through my research and radio show programs. There is now so much incredible information on how to reverse Parkinson’s symptoms that are covered in the revision. My only regret is that I did not get to work on the update earlier. The upload provides instant links to all of the websites and other references, so it is a an ideal resource for those of you who use their phones and computers on a regular basis.

The paperback version should be available later today.

Robert

 

For Men: One Way to Get Uninterrupted Sleep at Night

Some people with Parkinson’s symptoms get so little sleep at night that they are miserable day in and day out. Sleep is a prerequisite to healing. If you are a man, I have three questions for you:

  1. When sleeping do you wake up because of an urgency to pee?
  2. Do you make frequent visits to the bathroom at night?
  3. Does waking up not only interrupt your sleep at night but make it difficult to get back to sleep?

If the answer is yes to these three questions, investigate further a product called Conveen offered by Coloplast.us with product listing at: https://www.coloplast.us/Conveen-Optima-en-us.aspx

Recommended by some nurses who specialize in therapies for Parkinson’s, it is a rubber sheath (similar to a Condom) which attaches to a plastic bag which in turn is attaches to your leg when you sleep. When the urgency to pee arises, you do not have to get out of bed and visit the bathroom.

This has been a welcome solution for Steve who found the Conveen made it possible for him to get a restful night sleep because he no longer had to get up 4-6 times even night to pee. I wish there were a product like the Conveen for women but no such solution exists to my knowledge.

Robert

Test for Mold and Micro Toxins

During our support group meeting today Barbara discussed her discovery that her symptoms were caused by excessive mold in her house. There was interest in the group in knowing the name of the test her doctor used to determine the presence of mold in her body. Barbara emailed me this information this afternoon:

The mold test is a urine test for mold and micro toxins from Realtime labs.
Robert

New Dopamine Supplement from Spain

A natural Spanish product called AtreMorine is derived from the Fava bean plant. Have any of you used this product? One of our support group members has been using it with some success. Initial usage and experimentation has been very promising, enabling him to reduce his Madopar and Comptan dopamine  medication by up to 30%. Here are relevant links to the product and research he sent me:

https://atremorine-viaphyt.com/

https://livebetterparkinsons.com/finally-parkinson-disease-spanish-research-team-found-two-major-keys-of-the-neuroprotection-and-natural-increase-of-dopamine/

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/307513340_E-PodoFavalin-15999_AtremorineR-Induced_Dopamine_Response_in_Parkinson%27s_Disease_Pharmacogenetics-Related_Effects

 Robert

Why Recovery Stumbles

I am proud to celebrate the dozens of therapies that are helping more and more people reverse the symptoms associated with a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. There are so many great options out there that did not exist five years ago.

If so many great options exist, why do not more people celebrate a reduction and reversal of their Parkinson’s symptoms? People are gripped by a stranglehold of fear that their symptoms are destined to get worse. The process is “vicious” because symptoms are in your face day in and day out.

Take tremors for example. Tremors can calm down from time to time when stress is under control but they usually reappear.  The reaction to this seemingly never ending cycle is all too familiar.

  1. This tremor is driving me crazy. It is high time for it to disappear.
  2. The next day comes. The tremor persists.
  3. After many days, weeks and months you conclude you are “stuck” with this awful, nasty symptom for life.
  4. After all, this is what seemingly knowledgeable people have told you. Perhaps it is true after all.

What is the problem with this all too familiar pattern? It winds up supporting and sustaining the tremor. I suggest a very different reaction which can break this vicious cycle rather than sustain it.

Instead of viewing the tremor as the “bad guy” in your life, accept the tremor (or other symptoms) as the “good guy.”  Instead of wishing the tremor to vanish, wish it to flourish. Set an intention to allow your body to shake, rattle and roll if that is what your body needs to do in the moment.

Now, I suspect this recommendation must sound crazy to you. A tremor is your body’s way of getting your attention. It is the body’s natural method of releasing trauma and stress. When you suppress a tremor, the energy of trauma gets stuck in your body and sticks to your cells like glue.

When you view a tremor (or other symptoms) as the “bad guy” you  are giving your body a nasty message that it is broken.  But, it not broken now and never has been. Your body is working perfectly. It is just telling you something you do not want to hear or accept.

Treat a tremor (and other symptoms) as a natural healing response which is nudging you to set in motion new lifestyle habits.

  • Instead of resisting, why not make the changes?
  • Embrace new habits that you know in your mind, heart and soul are necessary to heal.

The best way to reverse the vicious cycle that leads to feeling worse is to acknowledge symptoms as the “good guys.” In so doing, you honor and acknowledge the body’s sacred ability to heal. Treat your body as broken and worthless and it will respond accordingly just as you do when treated with disrespect.

Robert

 

 

Farias Technique: Dismantle the Wall that Obstructs Effortless Mobility

Ever heard of the Farias Technique? I just heard about it and am eager to learn more. I invited Dr. Farias to be a guest on the radio show.

He argues that the underlying issue with mobility challenges concerns forgetting. Through training, we can help our body remember how to walk again. Nothing is broken. We are just accessing the wrong neural pathways.

No medicines are needed to change the channel. No surgeries are required.

I may well not be successful in recruiting him to be a guest on the radio show, but at a minimum, listen to the 7 minutes video on his website. It will infuse you with a rush of positive energy and “knowing” that recovery is possible now.

His website and the video: http://www.fariastechnique.com

Robert

 

Join Us Monday for the March Support Group Meeting

Coming up at noon pacific time Monday is our March support group meeting. Details on how to connect are on the support group membership page (click on the icon found at the top on the right hand column of this page).

I will offer a few comments about the interplay between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. There is a good guy and a bad guy when it comes to calming Parkinson’s symptoms. Find out which is which Monday.

Robert