Dealing With Parkinson’s Can Be Challenging for Everyone Involved
Utilizing all your resources may help make things easier. Studies have shown that strengthened spirituality can help improve quality of life (QOL) for persons with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and their care-partners. We will explore ways to rediscover joy, meaning, and purpose in one’s life, which may, in turn, improve mental health outlook.
Why me? What next?
Do you ask questions such as these? How will my family and I manage all that is before us? You’re not alone in these ponderings. These are common questions when faced with difficult issues such as an unexpected life-limiting diagnosis and uncertainty about the future. The good news is there are supportive services to help meet these challenges and proven ways to instill hope of living more fully with Parkinson’s at whatever stage you find yourself.
Spirituality Defined
Spirituality is the search for meaning, purpose, and connection to ourselves, others and something beyond ourselves, encompassing our beliefs, values, and practices. This connection outside ourselves may be found in nature, a higher power, a faith community, family, friends, pets, or whatever makes us feel most alive!
Relationship Between Spirituality and Quality of Life in Parkinson Disease
Spiritual wellness is associated with improved mood, reduced grief and decreased non-motor symptoms of Parkinson disease such as cognitive, sleep, and fatigue issues. An improved spiritual outlook is also linked to the ability to cope with the non-motor symptoms. 2020 Study
By addressing spiritual needs and promoting spiritual well-being, PD caregivers can find greater resilience, meaning, and joy in their lives, even in the face of adversity. Attending to and strengthening spirituality may be found through spiritual guidance and support, spiritual practices such as prayer, meditation or connecting with nature, or their faith community.
Connection between Spiritual Distress and Mental Health Outlook
Depression, anxiety and apathy are three common mental health issues that affect people with Parkinson Disease. Underlying these symptoms can be one or more of the following spiritual/emotional challenges:
- Loss of meaning and/or identity
- Increased sense of burden upon others
- Loss of independence/autonomy
- Challenges to faith
- Isolation and loneliness
- Grief including past, current, and anticipated
Approaches to Strengthening Spirituality, Improve Mental Health Outlook, and QOL
The primary goal, of these four approaches, is to increase joy, meaning and purpose, and peace.
Life Review — One of the most accessible tools available. Look at key moments in your life, accomplishments you are most proud of, when you felt most alive, and words of wisdom to pass on to your loved ones. Many people find a renewed sense of purpose and hope in their lives after participating in a life review process. One such platform is discussed in this article, Dignity Therapy and Parkinson’s.
Meditation/Prayer — Shown to increase Dopamine in the brain, which helps us think more clearly, have better balance, improve mood, and even help with Parkinson’s motor symptoms! Mindfulness and Parkinson’s.
Spiritual Counseling, guidance, and Support — Help in this area may be found with a healthcare chaplain, trained spiritual counselor, or faith community leader. Spiritual support through professional chaplains has been shown to strengthen one’s spirituality. This article demonstrates the connection in public health between spirituality and health and well-being. 2024 Study
Goal Setting for the Future Given Present Limitations — Using key findings from life review, one can set goals for the future, adapting previous activities and current wishes to increase joy and hope. Visioning the future can encourage a sense of agency, hope, meaning and purpose. Within Advance Care Planning is the opportunity to look at your goals and determine what matters most to you and your family. One excellent resource for beginning this conversation is The Conversation Project.
How to find Professional Spiritual Support
Ideally each neurology clinic has access to professional healthcare chaplains, often connected to a clinic’s palliative care team. If not available through your health system, Sagesse Advocacy offers professional spiritual support and counseling, and palliative care advocacy utilizing the tools described above.
Further Discussion on this Topic
Watch for Sagesse Advocacy’s webinar, Strengthening Spirituality and Improving Quality of Life in PD as part of the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) webinar series, Unlocking Strength Within.
Registration for Strengthening Spirituality and Improving Quality of Life begins early September, 2025. The interactive webinar will take place on Wednesday October 8th 11-12noon CST. Watch for the registration link on the APDA website.