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Parkinson's does not just affect the person with the condition.
Partners, family members and friends also live with Parkinson's and
their individual circumstances will determine how they are
affected.
Roles within the family may gradually change
as the condition progresses. Discussing these changes within the
family will help make things easier. Even if you are a naturally
upfront sort of person, explaining Parkinson’s to people that you
meet in everyday situations can be daunting. How and what you
decide to tell others will depend on your relationship with them,
but here are some ideas.
Be honest. Your family and friends may sense
there is something wrong, and pretending otherwise may not
necessarily re-assure them. You may be closing down an important
source of support for you by not asking for help. Talk to your
doctor, the PDS Helpline or
with a counsellor at an organisation such as Relate.
One of the best sources of support can be talking to other
people who are going through the same thing. If you can get your
own thoughts in order, it will become much less difficult to
explain things to new people that you meet. To find out if there is
a branch of the PDS in your area, call the PDS Helpline or visit the Find a local branch section of this website.
For further advice on discussing Parkinson's with
children, download the Talking to Children
about Parkinson’s information sheet in PDF.
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