Where there is self-compassion there is self-love. Where there is self-love, there is no chronic fear. Where there is no chronnic fear, there is no chronic stress. Where there is no chronic stress, there is no Parkinson’s. This, I believe, is a truism.
Self-compassion could be the key that unlocks the mystery of how to recover from the symptoms of PD.
Self-compassion came into my awareness recently. It wasn’t something I was thinking about. I was focused on self-love. But then it occurred to me that self-compassion might come first. My suspicians were confirmed by ChatGPT.
According to ChatGPT, self-compassion is … the ability to treat yourself with the same kindness, understanding, and patience you would offer someone you care about—especially when you’re struggling, failing, or in pain.
ChatGPT provided a simple metaphor: self-compassion is akin to watering a plant, whereas, self-love is the plant growing.
Some people know self-compassion intuitively. Some learn it experientially. Others learn through guidance.
How many of us are aware of self-compassion, let alone, practice it? As I said, until recently, it wasn’t on my radar screen.
Self-criticism says, you can do better. Self-compassion says, this is hard … it’s okay to be frustrated, disappointed, scared, angry … to want to give up, to feel sorry for yourself, to want to get back at somebody. These are all natural feelings. It’s not in our best interests to dwell on them or act on them, though.
Self-compassion means:
being kind to yourself, especially when things are hard;
taking a problem-solving approach, first, to all challenges;
acknowledging that you are trying your best;
acknowledging that you will not always be successful … and that failures are an important and inevitable part of the experience;
letting go of expectations;
saying I won’t make a hard moment, harder;
you don’t accept the harsh criticisms of others;
it’s okay to not always win or be successful, or perfect, for these are opportunities to learn and honor your competition.
being your biggest cheerleader when things are difficult.
As for Parkinson’s, it’s okay to feel scared, frustrated and weary. And it’s okay to want to take meds, or more meds. It’s a damn scary condition and it’s hard living with these symptoms.
Self-compassion activates the sensory section of the vagus nerve, which activates the Parasympathetic [calm] Nervous System, which triggers the release of feel-good neurotransmitters and hormones, including dopamine. So, it has a neurological impact.
Here’s how self-compassion affects Parkinson’s symptoms:
— Without self-compassion … cortisol [the stress hormone] rises, dopamine is suppressed, tension increases and symptoms last longer.
— With self-compassion … cortisol doesn’t rise as much, dopamine levels drop only slightly, tension is lower and eases sooner and symptoms are less intense.
— With practice and repetition, the stress response and Parkinson’s symptoms can be significantly reduced.
A simple way to get started, is to say, “Living with the symptoms of Parkinson’s is hard, and I’m doing my best to accept the challenge.”
As the symptoms of Parkinson’s progress, certain symptoms can become quite challenging. Tension and trembling, which I tend to lump together, is one such symptom. At times, it can be quite troublesome, especially in my hands and feet.
It happens during the times of the day when I’m off-meds. The period of time between waking up and taking my morning meds is the most challenging part of the day.
Tension and trembling makes it very difficult for me to send text messages, talk on the phone, do anything on my computer and read a book.
I have discovered three natural ways to give myself temporary relief from tension and trembling.
Breath observation
Movement [karate kicks and strikes, boxing techniques, yoga/stretching, qigong]
Energy healing
Breath Observation:
Observing your breath is an effective way to get relief from tension and trembling, whether it is done as part of a meditation practice or as a simple breathwork practice. It may take a few minutes for the tension and trembling to subside, so it may require some patience and trust … and a little practice.
The simplest breathing technique is a three to four second inhale followed by a six to eight second exhale.
The key is to have a longer exhale than inhale. This sends a message to the brain that you are safe.
Another effective technique is the Physiological Sigh: a deep inhale, followed quickly by a second, short, top-up inhale, followed by a long, slow exhale.
A third technique is Box Breathing: a four-second inhale, followed by a four-second hold, followed by a four-second exhale, followed by a four-second hold.
All three techniques activate the vagus nerve, which activates the parasympathetic [calm] nervous system, triggering the release of GABA [gamma amino butyric acid] the brain’s calming neurotransmitter and other feel-good neurotransmitters and hormones, including dopamine.
Movement:
Movement provides immediate relief from tension and trembling. Walking, qigong, boxing and karate blocks/kicks/strikes and dancing are just some of the more effective forms of exercise. Yardwork is also beneficial. For me, frequent, light exercise works best. Exercise eases tension in the muscles while stimulating a dopamine, adrenalin and endorphins release.
Energy Healing:
If you have been following my blog, you will know that I am an advocate and practitioner of energy healing.
Energy healing, simply put, involves connecting with healing energies in the spirit realm in order to facilitate the transmutation of fear-based energy to love. Disease cannot exist in an energy of love. Energy healing is intention-based.
Energy Healing Script:
The following is the script I use:
To my inner-self and all the spirit healers who are supporting me on my journey, I thank you for assisting me in giving over to the healing energy of the universal-energetic-intelligence, all of the fear energy that is at the root of the tension and trembling I am experiencing, so that it can be transmuted to love and dispersed out into the quantum energy field, and I thank you for this energetic transmutation and transference, for I am divine love.
To put it bluntly, I can’t fully trust the meds I take.
Let me explain.
I presently take only levodopa: 200mg at 8:30am and 150mg at 5:30pm. The morning meds kick-in at around 9am and wear-off around noon, while the evening meds kick-in around 6pm and last until 8:15. Generally, while the meds are on, when all goes well, my life is pretty much normal.
Unfortunately, I have learned it doesn’t always go the way it is supposed to for a number of reasons:
The meds are sometimes late kicking in, especially the evening meds, and especially if I am feeling anxious or stressed.
The meds frequently wear off early, especially if I am feeling anxious or stressed.
Occasionally, the meds will kick-in, then kick back out again.
The meds have a troublesome side-effect: loss of balance.
On days when I take extra meds, I frequently don’t feel good.
When I take extra meds, two days later, I tend to crash pretty hard.
The meds are sometimes late kicking in, especially the evening meds, and especially if I am feeling anxious or stressed:
Recently, my dinner-time meds were 45 minutes late kicking in, for no apparent reason. I have found that a little slice of apple or cucumber seems to help the meds kick in.
I did learn a few years ago that if I eat protein or animal fat within four hours of taking meds, it will delay the meds kicking in, so I avoid both. That is to say, I take my morning meds on an empty stomach and I eat a carbohydrate lunch.
The meds frequently wear off early, especially if I am feeling anxious or stressed:
I recently had an appointment with my doctor. It was scheduled for 10am, so I took my morning dose a half an hour early to give myself a little bit of a buffer. The doctor was running late … as usual … but I was prepared. I had an extra dose with me. Around 11am, I started to feel anxious, so I took the extra dose. Before the extra dose could take effect, my first dose wore off … early … and my second dose didn’t kick in after a half hour like it should have. By the time I finally saw the doctor, I was shaking badly, although, strangely enough, I could walk okay. The second dose finally kicked in a half hour after I left the doctor’s office.
Occasionally, the meds will kick-in, then kick back out again:
Every so often, my meds will kick in, then kick back out again. It seems to happen when I get up and move around as soon as my meds kick in. When this happens, I sit back down and focus on my breath until the meds kick back in again. It usually only takes a few minutes. Why this happens, I have no idea.
The meds have a troublesome side-effect: loss of balance:
It’s a different type of loss of balance than what I typically experience with Parkinson’s. I will be standing still, when all of a sudden, I start going sideways, in a circular direction. It feels like I can right myself, but I don’t, and I end up falling. I have hurt myself on a few occasion falling like this. It is very disconcerting because it happens randomly and I don’t know what to do about it.
On days when I take extra meds, I frequently don’t feel good:
I take extra meds once or twice a week when I need more time to get things done … like write a blog. Quite often, I don’t feel good … although, I am free of symptoms. I feel a little nauseous.
When I take extra meds, two days later, I tend to crash pretty hard:
The day after I take an extra dose of meds, I typically feel better during the time of day when I’m off-meds. I attribute this to the residual effect of having additional dopamine in my system. But then the following day, I feel much worse than normal as I go through the wear-off withdrawal as dopamine returns to baseline homeostasis.
The doctor who convinced me to start taking meds told me about none of these complications. It’s quite possible that she wasn’t aware of them.
All this has unfortunately left me distrusting the meds I take and feeling anxious about being out in public and attending functions for fear of the meds wearing off early or not kicking in when they should. I have learned that in certain situations I need to take extra meds or have extra meds on hand just in case. But as I discovered at the doctors office, sometimes a little extra is not quite enough.
I noticed a few years ago, that when I had a particularly stressful experience … especially where I experienced a lot of anxiety … some that lasted a day, some that lasted several days … the Parkinson’s symptoms I experience worsened and they stayed worse. One such event happened when I had covid … which lasted two weeks and included the worst sore throat of my life … and another happened when I had a 24-hour flu. The most recent happened this past May when I was unable to attend my niece’s wedding and my brother’s celebration of life due to several days of intense anxiety. Actually, I had been experiencing anxiety about that particular weekend for a couple of months prior.
Most of the events, in fact, involved intense anxiety.
In order to better understand this phenomenon, I queried the AI program, ChatGPT. ChatGPT was quite familiar with it. It referred to it as a ‘Step-Down’ phenomenon, and stated that it happens for three reasons: First, stress chemistry is directly toxic to dopamine regulation and pathways. Second, stress messes up the basal ganglia, the part of the brain that regulates movement, and, Third, stress disrupts the communication pathways between the brain and the muscles. All these changes are progressive and permanent … each time we experience an intense period of stress … and they happen in downward steps. They are akin to stomping on an already fragile [Parkinson’s] stairway.
So, what makes the neurological stairway fragile?
The seeds for me experiencing this step-down progression actually occurred between the ages of 18 and 23 when I experienced four panic attacks. Each panic attack followed an extended period of high stress and heavy alcohol consumption. In addition to stress and drinking, four other factors contributed to my neurological breakdown: poor diet, three emotional traumas, two major disappointments and two concussions. The morning after the third panic attack, I woke up with a brain fog that never went away. According to ChatGPT, my neurology failed to reset itself and I was now on a path to a more serious neurological disorder … because my neurological staircase was now in an extremely fragile state. A 1990 automobile collision in which I experienced a severe case of whiplash and the worst headache of my life pretty much sealed the deal. It made it certain that the stairway would not be repaired without some form of intervention.
Why I developed Parkinson’s and not some other condition is anybody’s guess, but the neurological damage I experienced ensured that it was going to be something.
Now, my challenge is minimizing future damage while still working towards full recovery through energy healing. To this end, I have developed specific energy healing scripts to neutralize anxiety, while reversing the step-down process [see below].
According to ChatGPT, these step-down experiences are not reversible, and this is where we disagree. I think they are. I believe it is possible to reverse the process and enjoy full recovery … just like our bodies are able to heal a cut or a broken bone … by immersing ourselves in love and energy healing. Besides, there are recorded cases of people who have recovered, including, Howard Shifke, Bianca Molle, John Coleman and Colin Potter.
I just cannot believe that it’s not possible to reverse this process. I cannot fathom the universal-energetic-intelligence [God], allowing this to be. I think it just wants us to take a different approach. I think it wants us to embrace love and belief and faith and forgiveness and gratitude … regardless of what we decide to do, medically.
ChatGPT does recommend a protocol that is meant to neutralize anxiety and slow and possibly halt any further progression of the condition. It includes:
60second reset: First, take a three second inhale, followed by a six second exhale. Second, place your attention on your feet touching the floor for ten seconds. Third, make two fists and squeeze them tight for ten seconds. Fourth, say, “I am loved and I am safe.” Fifth, completely relax your entire body for ten seconds. This routine signals the brain that you are safe, activating the vagus nerve, which then activates the parasympathetic [calm] nervous system.
Breathing: take a three second inhale followed by a slow six second exhale and repeat several times. This breathing technique sends a message to the brain indicating that we are safe, activating the vagus nerve, which in turn, activates the parasympathetic [calm] nervous system.
Cold water: splash cold water on your hands and face. This stimulates a dopamine release.
Light exercise: releases endorphins
Peaceful activity [qigong, yoga, spending time in nature]: activates the vagus nerve
It is really important to be aware of when you are experiencing anxiety, so that you can take immediate steps to mitigate it, including getting to the root cause of the anxiety and taking anxiety medication, if necessary.
As I have discussed in previous posts, I am focusing on energy healing, and I have developed a specific script for this step-down phenomenon a well as the acute anxiety that leads to the step-down deterioration.
Fear/anxiety clearing energy healing script:
This energy healing protocol is more tactical in nature and is intended to dissolve the anxiety, in the moment, that can potentially lead to further step-down neurological deterioration.
To my inner-self, I say this: thankyou for assisting me in giving over to the healing energy of the universal-energetic-intelligence, all of the fear energy that is at that root of the acute anxiety I am feeling, so that this energy can be transmuted to love and dispersed out into the quantum energy field, and I thank you for this energetic transmutation and transference,
Reversing PD Step-Down Energy Healing Script:
This script is more strategic in nature and is intended to reverse the neurological deterioration process and begin to restore optimum health.
To my inner-self and the universal-energetic-intelligence, I thank you for assisting me in reversing the step-down neurological progressive deterioration process I have been experiencing thus far on my journey with the symptoms of PD, by dissolving fear and self-loathing and by immersing myself in a state of divine love, self-compassion and eventually, self-love, in order to create an internal culture for healing, and in the process, restore all healthy neurological structures, functions and processes, as part of a full neurological reset, including activating the sensory section of my vagus nerve and including that relating to the production and release of GDNF and the production, release, action and reuptake of new dopamine creating neurons as well as the stimulation of dormant dopamine producing neurons and other parasympathetic-activated neurotransmitters and hormones, to divine birthright, optimal, homeostatic baseline levels. And I thank you for this neurological healing.
Apathy is just one of the many symptoms of low dopamine, common for people living with the symptoms of Parkinson’s.
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter produced in the basil ganglia portion of the mid-brain. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that transmit messages from the Central Nervous System, including the brain, to various destinations in the brain and body. Other important neurotransmitters include, serotonin [happiness], GABA [calm] and acetylcholine [focus]. Hormones are chemical messengers of the Endocrine System. Two of the best known hormones are cortisol and adrenaline … the fight-flight chemical messengers.
Dopamine has two pathways: motor [movement] and non-motor [motivation, mood, celebration] functions. Motor functions include: trembling, loss of balance, stiff gait and freezing. Non-motor symptoms include: anxiety, brain-fog, loss of facial expression and softening of the voice.
Apathy, which I mentioned at the beginning, is a consequence of the loss of motivation that occurs with the loss of dopamine.
When baseline dopamine levels fall below a certain threshold, the symptoms of Parkinson’s begin to present themselves. In my case, the first symptom I experienced was a loss of sense of taste and smell. A year later, I started losing control in my left leg while long distance running. Three years after that, the index finger of my left hand started trembling. Now I am affected in over forty ways.
The symptoms of Parkinson’s present differently in different people both in terms of their order of appearance and severity. Over the years, different symptoms have been more troublesome for me: for a period of time, trembling was the most challenging symptom, then freezing, and more recently, anxiety.
I have also, thankfully, discovered remedies for certain symptoms, otherwise, they would be more challenging: for example, Vit C and magnesium citrate help minimize constipation; while the belief that I can recover my health helps prevent depression.
I recently saw a post on one of the Parkinson’s Facebook pages that suggests there is a general lack of information on the extent to which the symptoms of PD affects our lives. As scary as it may be, I think it is better to be fully informed right up front on the extent to which this condition will affect your life, than to find out after the fact when it will be more difficult to do something about it.
In 2014, twelve years after developing the first symptoms and six years after being formally diagnosed, I reached the conclusion that fear, in the absence of self-love, was the primary reason why I developed the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease … although, it would take a few more years for me to understand the role of a lack of self-love.
What led me to this conclusion about fear, was a series of panic attacks. The first panic attack was triggered by the thought: what if I become completelyimmobile. This one simple thought triggered the first panic attack, followed a week later by a second panic attack, followed two days after that, by an all-day attack. This all-day attack was the most challenging day of my life up to that point.
Four years later, I would experience an even more intense and frightening period of panic attacks that would further contribute to my comprehension of fear and its role in my life, although I didn’t understand it initially.
This series of experiences, I believe, was meant to guide me to an understanding of why I developed what is commonly described as an ‘incurable’ disease, as well as, discovering a solution to overcoming it.
Perhaps, at this point, it would help to have an understanding of the various aspects of fear.
There are five common elements of what falls under the umbrella of fear: worry, anxiety, panic-attacks, fear and stress.
Worry is repetitive, often racing, negative thoughts. It’s something we do. It quite often involves a lot of, “what ifs” and focusing on problems or challenging situations. More often than not, we are thinking these thoughts without being aware of it.
Anxiety is something we feel and it is anticipatory. It occurs when we worry something bad is going to happen. Anxiety ranges from mild anxiety [angst/butterflies] to severe anxiety, and is characterized by tightness in the throat, feelings of dread, tension throughout the body, powerlessness and inability to focus due to racing thoughts. [Here we differentiate between severe anxiety and panic attacks, although, it is a fine line.]
Panic-attacks are sudden, explosive bursts of fear, created by a flood of cortisol. They are rapid in onset and typically short-lived, and they can be terrifying. You may feel like you’re dying [I did]. They can be triggered by a thought, or as I discovered, by marijuana.
Fear, in this paradigm, is the classic fight-flight response to an immediate and real danger: a perceived life threatening situation. It typically involves a decision: do I run or do I stand my ground.
Stress is the physical and mental outcome of these fear experiences. It is characterized by tension and fatigue throughout the body and mind mainly due to the presence of cortisol, the stress hormone. Stress in short bursts can be beneficial. It is chronic stress and the constant presence of cortisol that is harmful.
To assist in understanding these elements of fear, let me present an example. You are playing hockey and there is a goon on the other team who has threatened to “get you.” You are sitting on the bench, thinking about it. You are worrying: “what if the coach puts me out on the ice when the goon is out there?” “what if the goon comes after me?” “what if he beats me up?” You begin to feel anxious and tense. The more you think about it, the more anxious and tense you get. Soon, you are in full-on anxiety. You are having trouble thinking clearly. Then the coach calls your name and says you’re up next, triggering a full-on panic attack, fueled by thoughts of “worst-case scenarios,” like getting beaten up and being publicly humiliated. Then the door opens and you’re on the ice. You are immediately confronted by the goon, who drops his gloves and comes at you. Now, it’s fight or flight. Genuine fear. Rather than run or collapse, you drop your gloves, prepared to fight. But the referees jump in and break it up before a punch can be thrown. After the game, in the dressing room, you are feeling completely physically and mentally drained [stressed] by the whole affair.
Now imagine this happening in other areas of your life: at school, in the neighborhood, at work, at home, with dogs, with snakes or flying.
How does this apply to Parkinson’s? The moment you begin to worry about your state of health, the symptoms you are experiencing and your future, triggering various degrees of anxiety, your amygdala is activated, which in turn, activates the stress response [the Sympathetic Nervous System SNS], initiating the release of cortisol [the stress hormone], while deactivating the vagus nerve and shutting down the Parasympathetic [calm] Nervous System [PNS], and thus, shutting down the release of dopamine and other feel-good neurotransmitters and hormones.
The longer you stay in this state, the higher the cortisol levels … and the lower the dopamine levels … eventually leading to the onset of the symptoms of Parkinson’s, at which point, you’re told that PD is degenerative, progressive and incurable, pretty much ensuring the overactivation of the SNS and deactivation of the PNS, permanently.
The solution to restoring our health is threefold: First, involves what we can do on a day-to-day basis to reduce stress and foster calm for as many of our waking hours as possible. We can meditate, practice qigong and yoga, exercise [joyfully], spend time in nature, spend time with our grandchildren, read uplifting books and watch uplifting movies, learn something new and eat healthy foods.
Second, we can heal the emotional wounds that are at the root of the chronic worry that caused us to develop the disease: the traumas, the wounded inner children, the unresolved emotional pain, the detrimental beliefs and detrimental self-perceptions. This may involve psycho-therapy. I am addressing this through energy healing.
Third, we can foster the development of self-love: through awareness, understanding, forgiveness, energy healing or some form of therapy. It could involve a change of personality.
You may be wondering, what is the role of medication. Medication gives us a few hours a day of reduced symptoms, and thus, reduced stress. It does this by flooding our brain with dopamine, a feel-good neurotransmitter, activating our Parasympathetic nervous system, putting us in a calm state. A word of caution: there is a price to pay for this feel-good state. When the medication wears off, dopamine, in order to maintain homeostasis, falls below baseline for a period of time. We crash, and we feel worse, with more intense symptoms.
It is possible that fear did not play a direct role in your developing the symptoms of Parkinson’s; perhaps head injuries and concussions or chemical toxins were the primary cause. Fear is likely to become a part of the experience at some point as dopamine levels fall off, cortisol levels become elevated, and you spend more and more time in a Sympathetic Nervous System activated state, so understanding the fear paradigm is relevant. I am not saying this to scare you, but rather to prepare you for what is a common aspect of the Parkinson’s experience.
I am currently considering switching from Sinemet to Rytary. Sinemet is the standard, regular release form of levodopa. It is the most widely used medication for the treatment of the symptoms of PD. Rytary is the time-release formulation. Both formulations are combined with carbidopa in order to minimize nauseousness.
When I started taking Sinemet in December of 2018, I wasn’t told about Rytary, so it was never an option.
My concerns with Sinemet are threefold:
First, is the effects of the fluctuations in the levels of dopamine. Taking levodopa [Sinemet] is akin to celebrating, then crashing, celebrating, then crashing. It’s a constant dopamine rollercoaster. You feel good while the medication is in effect, then you feel horrible when it wears off. And the crash period has been getting more intense over time. But you have to let it wear off or you risk dyskinesia.
Second, is the wear-off withdrawal that occurs with every dosage as dopamine returns to homeostasis … which for me, means twice a day and it’s very unpleasant. Among other symptoms, I experience more intense trembling and tension, especially in my feet and hands.
Third, is the loss of balance I experience from time-to-time when the meds are on … and it’s getting worse. It’s a weird form of loss of balance. I can be doing something and suddenly start going sideways, thinking I can steady myself, but I keep going. I have hurt myself a couple of times falling in this manner.
According to the artificial intelligence [AI] program, ChatGPT, taking the time-release form of levodopa more closely mimics the natural homeostatic baseline nature of dopamine. That is to say, dopamine has a baseline level of release in order to support digestion, blood circulation, breathing, blinking and other functions. It fluctuates slightly throughout the day. It is highest in the morning when it is time to get up and get moving and lowest in the evening when it is time to prepare for sleep.
Some questions I have:
What is the typical dosage for Rytary and how long does it last?
Is there a wear-off [crash period] with Rytary? If yes, how does it compare to the Sinemet wear-off? [According to ChatGPT, there is a crash, but it is more mild than with Sinemet]
How long does it take for Rytary to kick in [Sinemet takes 25 to 30 minutes]? [According to ChatGPT, it takes 45 to 90 minutes on average]
Does Rytary have any side-effects? If yes, what are they and how severe/debilitating are they?
Do protein and fat interfere with Rytary-sourced levodopa digestion, absorption and uptake the way they do with Sinemet? [According to ChatGPT, protein and fat do interfere with absorption]
What are the long-term effects of Rytary usage?
I am hoping that by posting this blog, people will provide me with some insights that will help me decide whether to switch to Rytary or stay with Sinemet. It’s an important decision and I believe firsthand experience is invaluable. Of course, I will also consult with my physician.
Here’s what one person said about switching to Rytary:
I switched almost a year ago. I was just starting C/L and just couldn’t tolerate it. It made me dizzy and nauseated so my MDS ordered Rytary. I have been able to take that without side effects. It has helped decrease my tremor a small amount and decreased some rigidity/dystonia in my foot. I can’t take a night dose or I won’t sleep well so I take 2 doses/day – approximately 8 am and 1 pm
I have been heavily focused on the neurological aspect of Parkinson’s Disease, particularly as it relates to the relationship between the Sympathetic [fight-flight] and Parasympathetic [calm] Nervous Systems. It turns out that each is regulated by other structures, namely, the amygdala and the vagus nerve.
The amygdala is an almond shaped structure situated deep in the limbic system of the mid-brain that regulates the fight-flight response. It receives input from the five senses and when it detects danger, by way of thoughts [that is a shark I see], it goes into action. It alerts the hypothalamus, which then activates the fight-flight response through the sympathetic nervous system, including suppressing the vagus nerve and alerting the adrenal glands to release cortisol [the stress hormone] and adrenalin [the energy hormone] into the bloodstream.
As I discussed in my last post, the amygdala also stores emotional memories, especially negative ones, which makes it a priority for energy healing. It is the amygdala that turns a one-time traumatic experience into a lifetime of emotional trauma [more on this later on].
The vagus nerve runs from the brain to the heart, lungs and digestive track. It too receives input from the five senses and goes into action following a period of stress once it has determined that the stressful event is over and the coast is clear [that wasn’t a shark I saw, it was Flipper the friendly dolphin]. It activates the parasympathetic [calm] nervous system, while stimulating the release of the feel-good neurotransmitters and hormones, including dopamine.
Another thing to mention: The prefrontal cortex, responsible for rational thinking, is overridden by the amygdala’s alarm signal. This makes it hard to think clearly or calm yourself down when feeling stressed or anxious.
Once activated, the Sympathetic Nervous System initiates a series of actions:
Heart rate spikes (tachycardia) to pump more blood to the muscles.
Rapid breathing to get more oxygen to the muscles
The immune, digestive and reproductive systems shut down.
Muscles tense in preparation for action.
Sweating occurs to regulate body temperature: to keep us from over heating.
After the call to action or crisis is over, the parasympathetic nervous system, triggered by the vagus nerve, starts calming the body: heart rate slows, blood pressure returns to normal, breathing stabilizes, digestion resumes, the immune system is reactivated and the mind calms. Also, the amygdala begins interacting with the feel-good neurotransmitters and hormones, including, dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin and GABA, in order to further destress and restore calm.
The amygdala works with the hippocampus [another brain structure]. The hippocampus records factual information about an event, while the amygdala assigns and records the level of emotional trauma associated with the event.
Things become problematic when the amygdala becomes overactive due to overexposure to stress/worry/anxiety/trauma causing excess levels of fear and emotional energy. When this happens, the Autonomic Nervous System gets stuck in the Sympathetic [fight-flight] state, where it is constantly stimulating the release of cortisol and adrenalin.
To further complicate matters, the more traumatic the experience, the more likely the hippocampus is to be adversely affected by cortisol, causing it to record the information incorrectly or disorganized, causing more confusion and anxiety.
In essence, our innate self-love ‘pot-of-gold’ gets buried under tons of fear, detrimental emotional memories, detrimental beliefs and self-images from all the painful emotional experiences and traumas we have endured and that are held on record in the amygdala. So, it is the amygdala that keeps us in a perpetual state of fear and heightens our level of anxiety when we have a present moment experience that reminds us of that previous trauma, or when we simply recall that trauma.
To restore order, we need to deactivate the amygdala while alerting the vagus nerve. Normally, this would happen automatically, through the observations of the five sense: when we no longer see, hear, feel, smell or taste danger. But when the amygdala is overactive and overloaded with fear it appears to block the observations of the senses, keeping us stuck in a state of stress and anxiety.
The gist of all this is that I don’t think it is possible to unearth self-love and recover from the symptoms of Parkinson’s without first clearing the fear and unresolved emotional memory from the amygdala, while stimulating and strengthening the vagus nerve. Otherwise, the amygdala will constantly override the nervous system’s efforts to return to the parasympathetic state. We can begin to calm the amygdala through meditation, breathwork and exercise. We can also undertake psychotherapy. But the most effective way I know of to clear the fear from the amygdala is through energy healing.
In addition to calming and healing the amygdala, the hippocampus can be strengthened with meditation and exercise, while the vagus nerve can be strengthened and activated by:
Deep breathing – the vagus nerve is connected to the diaphragm, so slow breathing signals safety to the nervous system
Humming, singing or chanting – the vagus nerve runs through the vocal cords
Cold exposure [splashing cold water on your face or taking a cold shower] – cold stimulates the vagus nerve which slows the heart rate, signaling everything is safe
I frequently see posts on Facebook asking for advice on Parkinson’s medication. People want to know if they should take meds, what meds they should take, how much they should take, what they can do about dyskinesia.
It’s a dilemma.
I experienced the symptoms of Parkinson’s for 16 years before reluctantly going on meds in 2018 due to a crisis which I will explain momentarily.
Your decision whether to go on meds comes down to four questions: how bad are your symptoms; have you explored all of the non-meds alternatives; how much of your day do you want to spend free of symptoms; and are you willing to pay the price for being on meds … because there is a price to pay.
Let’s examine each of these questions.
First, how bad are the symptoms you are experiencing and do they pose any danger? Are you at risk of falling or choking? Are you able to dress yourself, prepare your meals, use a fork or spoon, or go to the bathroom on your own? Are you prone to anxiety? Are you scared? Are you able to walk safely? If you are still independent and can function relatively normally, you probably don’t need to go on meds.
Second, have you explored non-meds alternatives? Have you tried Vit B1 therapy? Have you tried meditating, power-walking, qigong/yoga, spending time in nature, changing your diet or energy healing? There are many things you can do to reduce stress, ease the symptoms you experience and slow the progression of the symptoms you experience before you need to resort to medication.
Third, how much of your day do you want to spend free of symptoms? My medication regimen gives me five hours a day without symptoms. Most days, this gives me enough time to eat breakfast and dinner and complete certain tasks [stack firewood, blog, write, run errands] free of symptoms. If I need more time, I will take an extra dose of meds. I use my off-meds time to meditate, power-walk, shovel snow, read, write and do energy healing. I also eat lunch off-meds, but I prepare it while my meds are on.
Fourth, are you willing to pay the price for being on meds? When the medication you take wears off, there is a crash and the symptoms you experience will actually be worse for an hour or two. This is because dopamine strives to be in homeostasis. Dopamine, and all neurotransmitters and hormones, has a baseline level that is fairly constant throughout the the day. Medication causes a spike in dopamine above this baseline, so in order to maintain homeostasis, dopamine levels crash, by falling below baseline, until homeostasis is restored. This is to prevent a buildup of dopamine which could lead to dyskinesia [uncontrolled movements], hallucinations and even schizophrenia.
In 2018, I was forced to go on meds due to a reaction to ten months of Bowen Therapy treatments which led to six weeks of daily panic attacks followed by a sudden loss of mobility due to an adverse reaction to an anxiety medication. I was admitted to hospital, completely immobile, placed on levodopa, and seven days later I walked out of the hospital and went home and shoveled snow. After that, I tried three times to wean off the levodopa without success. I have since reached a point where the off-meds symptoms I experience are too severe to be completely off meds. I need to be on meds for part of the day in order to eat meals, complete certain tasks and run errands.
One of the traps we fall into, is wanting to be free of symptoms 24/7. This can lead to taking levodopa, time-release levodopa, plus dopamine agonists and reuptake inhibitors without a break, which can lead to having too much dopamine.
If you are experiencing dyskinesia and or hallucinations, it is likely because you have too much dopamine in your system which likely means you are taking too much levodopa. If this is the case, you have one of three options: you can reduce the amount of levodopa you are taking or you can replace some of the levodopa with a dopamine agonist or you can take an anti-dyskinesia medication, such as Amantadine. As long as you have a break to allow dopamine to return to homeostasis.
Thankfully, I have not had the need to try any other Parkinson’s meds, including time release levodopa, dopamine agonists or dopamine reuptake inhibitors, and I have not had to take any anti-dyskinesia meds.
The key to slowing the progression of the symptoms of PD is reducing, and ideally, eliminating stress. Whether any of the PD meds contribute to this, I think, is open to debate. During the period of time my meds are in effect, I am definitely more relaxed, but this is partially offset by the crash period when I am more stressed. What is more, I have no idea what the long-term affects of taking meds will have on me.
Lastly, I would like to talk about bedtime meds. Again, I have seen numerous posts from people who are having difficulty with their nighttime meds. It seems people are taking meds before retiring for the night, then waking in the middle of the night with severe trembling and other symptoms, unable to get back to sleep. I question taking meds before bed. Dopamine is associated with excitement, celebration and movement; things that are counter to restful sleep. I think it makes more sense to allow the appropriate neurotransmitters and hormones to unfold naturally, especially as it relates to melatonin and GABA. Melatonin is the sleep hormone, while GABA is a neurotransmitter associated with calm and sleep. Both are produced in the brain. Melatonin begins being released in the brain as soon as the sun sets in order to prepare us for sleep. The same is true with GABA. At the same time, the fight-flight response shuts down, thus reducing the amount of cortisol; again, in order to enable us to sleep. Melatonin and GABA release eases off around 3am, while cortisol baseline release begins to increase, all to prepare us to awaken. By taking meds at bedtime, we are interfering with these natural processes, and thus, interfering with our sleep. If you are having difficulty with your nighttime meds, I urge you to discuss this with your neurologist. I take my last round of meds at 5:30pm and they wear-off around 8pm. My symptoms tend to ease off around bedtime, when cortisol production begins to lower and when melatonin and GABA are increasing. I sleep well every night and I am not bothered by trembling; although I usually get up once during the night to go to the bathroom.
It is essential that if we’re going to take meds, we maximize their benefits, and in this case, sometimes less is more.
The other day, I was having a difficult time getting back into bed after my nightly trip to the bathroom, when I lost my temper, got angry, and got myself to where I wanted to go. After I got settled, it occurred to me that anger is not the solution to overcoming the symptoms of Parkinson’s: love is.
I discovered several years ago that anger can help me overcome certain PD-related movement symptoms. Anger stimulates an adrenalin release, which also stimulates a dopamine release,: facilitating movement. But it also stimulates a cortisol release: the stress hormone. So, in that regard, it works against me.
I realized many years ago, that fear is my kryptonite and anger is my Superman: fear paralyzes me, whereas anger empowers me. An incident that happened when I was in my teens, playing Junior C hockey provides a good illustration of this. In one particular game, during he first period, one of the guys on my team got into a fight with an opposing player. The opposing player was quite big … around six-foot-two and about 220 pounds … considerably bigger than my six feet, 180 pounds. The guy went ballistic in an attempt to get at my teammate. I turned to another teammate and said, “I wouldn’t to get into a fight with that guy.” Then, later in the game, the same guy slashed me across the throat with his hockey stick. It really hurt, and moments later, I tried to yell to one of teammates to pass me the puck, but no sound came out. It freaked me out, and in a rage I skated over to the guy, whacked him with my stick and then bested him in a fight.
Anger is such an easy state for me to enter. I can easily fly into a rage when I encounter some form of difficulty. I don’t have to think about. It just explodes inside me. Love, conversely, is not so easy. It doesn’t come naturally.
And here’s the thing: I don’t feel good about myself when I get angry. Short-term empowerment is replaced by long-term shame. So, for me, anger is counter-productive.
So, how do I enter the love state. Where anger comes naturally and easily, love doesn’t. I could think about my grandchildren. I love them immensely. This might work for me, but not everyone has grandchildren. A more universal way to access the love state is to focus on my breath. It has been said that we are never more than one breath away from being in a meditative state, and a meditative state is a love-state.
This, then, is a good place to start. Whenever I am struggling, take some deep breaths and perhaps, visualize my heart … or my grandchildren … and feel the love!
Long-term, this is much better for my health and more likely to help me in my endeavor for a full recovery.
FredPhillips 