Living With Parkinson’s: The Process of Finding Optimism

Abstract

Individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD) often experience poor mental and emotional well-being, which negatively affect their quality of life. Optimism is a protective factor which has been shown to promote resiliency, reduce distress in health crises, and protect against the effects of negative mental health outcomes. The current article utilized grounded theory methodology to examine personal accounts ( N = 85) detailing how individuals were able to cultivate optimism despite challenges presented by PD. The grounded theory indicated that a process occurs in which individuals with PD move through the following five phases on their journey toward optimism: (a) diagnosis, (b) initial reactions, (c) adjustment, (d) acceptance, and (e) living with optimism. These findings indicate that individuals with PD often struggle to experience optimism. Nevertheless, by reframing optimism as a choice rather than a feeling, participants were able to make decisions that allowed them to progress on their journey toward optimism.

“He’s Back so I’m Not Alone”: The Impact of Deep Brain Stimulation on Personality, Self, and Relationships in Parkinson’s Disease

“…The notion of self-estrangement can be applied to patients’ relationship with their illness, although it has typically been used to describe patients’ postoperative experiences. In the current sample, illness-related self-estrangement appeared to be buffered in those displaying cognitive and behavioral factors associated with adaptive adjustment to chronic illness (e.g., benefit finding, optimism, problem-focused strategies, and engaging in good health behaviors) (Gardenhire et al, 2019). However, it was exacerbated in those who displayed maladaptive approaches (e.g., wishful thinking, helplessness, coping through avoidance; Dekker & de Groot, 2016; Moss-Morris, 2013).…”

“…From an experiential perspective, autonomy (as self-governance) is not clearly separated from physical independence and mobility. In standard PD care, promoting self-efficacy, control, and mastery is crucial, whether it be through adopting a healthy lifestyle, engaging in therapies (physio, speech, music), or developing hobbies (Gardenhire et al, 2019). Physical and sensory integrating activities in particular are recommended for the process of preserving self in PD (Vann-Ward et al, 2017).…”

Adjusting to living with Parkinson’s disease; a meta-ethnography of qualitative research

“…… . with the help of caring and supportive family members, a few special friends, doctors, and my husband I have been back to moving and finding my groove [35].…”

“…Taking leave of activities, they could not perform anymore in order to adapt to everyday life The difficulties faced by individuals with PD in having to lose their job or knowing that they probably will lose it in the near future. Most of the participants stressed that they would like to be useful in some way in case they were not able to work anymore Remaining active in society as way to maintain levels of self-esteem The importance of support groups in offering a sense of belonging Individuals with PD stressed that it was very important for them to be able to take care of themselves, to be independent The importance of thinking in positive ways, and putting high value on the activities one could still do The challenges of maintaining their positive way of thinking, especially when the disease progresses individuals with PD to maintain independence in the activities which mattered most [35,[37][38][39]. Individuals were determined to maintain their usual activities as far as possible even when this was at conflict with doctors' advice about expected behaviours, only adjusting their behaviour when their habitual activities were no longer working for them [40].…”

“…Support groups were one forum where an individual gained friendship which encouraged a coherent sense of self. Coherence was provided by opportunities which allowed individuals to reinforce and confirm the experiences of themselves which mattered, such as through participation in enriching activity and offering reciprocal support [35,42,43].…”