Supporting a Loved One with Parkinson’s-Related Anxiety
Everyone has feelings of anxiety from time to time – it’s a natural reaction to situations we find stressful or difficult, like moving house, getting a medical diagnosis or losing a loved one. However, not many people know that anxiety is actually a common symptom of Parkinson’s disease (PD).
Anxiety can have a huge impact on the well-being of people living with PD. It affects how they sleep, eat and enjoy everyday activities. They might find this stress response difficult to deal with, leading them to shut down and avoid responsibilities instead of working through them.
The good news is that there are a range of proven strategies that can help. Through gentle support and understanding, many people with Parkinson’s manage their anxiety symptoms and feel more confident again.
In this article, we’ll look at how you can support a loved one who’s living with Parkinson’s and anxiety through practical tips and techniques.
Why people with Parkinson’s might experience anxiety
Some people with Parkinson’s find that anxiety is one of their earliest symptoms, even appearing years before their professional diagnosis. Others experience it for the first time when they learn that they have PD, often triggered by the emotions of facing an uncertain future. In some cases, people won’t experience anxiety until they’ve been living with the disease for years.
It’s possible that they may never experience this side effect, although Parkinson’s Foundation reports that 40% of people with PD will experience an anxiety disorder at some point in their journey.
There isn’t a single, one-size-fits-all reason people with Parkinson’s experience anxiety, but several factors might play a role:
Chemical changes in the brain
Parkinson’s disease damages dopamine-producing cells, leading them to die gradually. Dopamine is a chemical in the brain that helps to regulate mood and movement, and losing it may increase feelings of anxiety. Parkinson’s also affects brain chemicals like serotonin and GABA, which have been linked to an increased risk of anxiety and depression.
“Off periods” between medications
Medication may begin to wear off between doses, making it slightly less effective. People with Parkinson’s might see their symptoms come back before their next dose, including movement symptoms and anxious thoughts. The medication shouldn’t wear off completely during this time, so some people might feel a gentler form of anxiety – but even this has an effect on day-to-day life for people with PD.
Feeling lonely and isolated
Parkinson’s disease can make it more difficult to stay active, connect with others and enjoy things in everyday life that used to spark joy. With the onset of movement symptoms making even simple things a challenge, it’s easy for a person suffering from PD to isolate themselves from their friends and family. A lack of connection between loved ones can spike feelings of anxiety, particularly if you used to have a close relationship.
Coping with Parkinson’s disease
Learning to live with Parkinson’s can be difficult, especially when the diagnosis comes out of the blue. The future is suddenly full of unknowns, leading to worries about how the person with the disease is going to manage their symptoms while working, spending time with their families and enjoying their hobbies. This worrying is what often leads to increased anxiety in people living with PD.
How to recognise anxiety in people with Parkinson’s
Anxiety often looks very different from person to person. Some individuals may experience numerous side effects, such as shortness of breath, a pounding heart and sweating, while others may get a sudden sense of overwhelming doom. Others won’t even realise the symptoms they’re experiencing are being caused by anxiety, as they’re not as common or talked about enough. This is why it’s important to keep an eye on loved ones with PD.
Potential signs of anxiety include:
- A sense of dread, constant worry or the inability to relax
- Difficulty concentrating or sleeping; restless legs at night
- Sweating, dizziness and trembling
- A pounding or racing heartbeat; tightness in the chest or feeling breathless
- Indigestion, nausea and stomach cramps
- Loss of appetite or a dry mouth
- Muscle pain and tension; headaches
How to support someone with anxiety and Parkinson’s
Both Parkinson’s and anxiety can hugely impact someone’s quality of life, and it’s often difficult to see a loved one going through it. Supporting them doesn’t necessarily mean fixing their symptoms or giving them medical advice – sometimes, it’s simply enough to be there for them with a listening ear and plenty of reassurance.
Here are a few practical ways to support someone with anxiety and PD:
Encourage them to speak to their GP
Anxiety can impact all aspects of life through the symptoms that come with it. Adding these to the symptoms that already materialise through Parkinson’s disease can become overwhelming and even more difficult to manage. If you think your loved one is struggling, gently encourage them to speak to a GP, Parkinson’s nurse or specialist. They’ll talk through potential medications and therapies that may be helpful in managing and reducing symptoms.
Stay connected
People with Parkinson’s and anxiety often find it difficult to keep up with their friends and family, sometimes ending up feeling isolated. Staying connected with them takes away some of the burden of them having to reach out to you, giving them one less thing to worry about. It also lets them know that they’re not alone.
Create a calming, familiar environment
Anxiety often spikes when people are in unfamiliar surroundings, so stick to places you know your loved one enjoys when spending time with them. You can make small changes around their home to make managing their Parkinson’s symptoms easier, while also keeping their regular routine in place.
Engage in activities that they enjoy
People with Parkinson’s and anxiety may be missing the feeling of connection with their friends and family. Their routine and future have changed to accommodate their new diagnosis, so they might not have the capacity to focus on things they used to enjoy. Using your time together to do these activities shows that you care and gives them a break from worrying to truly enjoy themselves.
Keep moving
Gentle exercise and fresh air have been shown to reduce the negative effects of anxiety. Parkinson’s affects mobility, so it’s important to build physical activity into your loved one’s routine and keep them moving where possible. It doesn’t have to be strenuous – gardening, housework, or preparing a meal encourages movements and reduces anxiety symptoms. You can also help them find the right equipment to get around, like canes, walking poles and wheelchairs.
Support a healthy routine
A routine is often invaluable to prevent anxiety from spiralling out of control, as it gives the person experiencing it a reliable idea of what’s next. A healthy routine could include things like going on a walk, taking their medicine and cooking their favourite meal. Breaking everyday things into small, manageable steps can stop them from becoming overwhelming.
Ask them how you can help them
One of the most important and valuable ways to help someone suffering from things you’re not personally experiencing, like Parkinson’s and anxiety, is by asking what they want from you. Some people might need practical help with things like shopping, cooking and getting around, while others simply want someone to listen to them.
How Country Cousins can help
While you might want to help someone you know who is suffering from anxiety as a result of their Parkinson’s disease, it can be overwhelming trying to care for them every day alongside your other responsibilities. That’s where we come in. At Country Cousins, we know just how important mental well-being is for people suffering from PD.
Here are some of the ways we can help:
- Respite care: We offer short-term care and support for you or your loved one in the comfort of their own home, so you can split the caring responsibility
- Companion care: Our carers keep those who struggle with being alone company, helping them stay on top of their daily errands and tasks
- 24-hour care: We understand that anxiety can strike at any time of the day, so our round-the-clock care makes sure we’re there whenever our clients need us
To make our clients’ day-to-day lives a little easier, we’re committed to providing compassionate, personalised care to support their mental health. We’ll carefully match your loved one with a live-in carer to give them the support they need without having to expose them to unfamiliar surroundings, avoiding this becoming a trigger for anxiety.
Talk to our team today
As the UK’s longest-serving introductory live-in care agency, we’ve been committed to providing bespoke, compassionate live-in care to those who need it since 1959.
Give us a call today on 01293 224 706. Our experienced team is on hand to help from Monday to Friday, 8 am to 6 pm. Alternatively, contact us through our online enquiry form.
