Janet wrote: >>> janet paterson <[log in to unmask]> 09/19/97 03:12pm >>>when my ex-brother-in-law, willie, was a child, he was part of a large, hard-working, loving family during his teen years willie witnessed a profound personality change in his father who became generally very angry and argumentative to the point of physically abusing willie's mom willie felt his love for his father turn to hatred - a few years later willie's father was diagnosed with a brain tumour and died not too long after the diagnosis<<< >>>on a more personal and slightly less traumatic level during my twenties I shared an apartment with my then love maurice for about four years my temperament has always seemed pretty happy and easy-going both to me and to all my friends certainly I rarely got angry or raised my voice in spite of that maurice and I had horrific yelling arguments once in awhile and I can still feel the full-blown glorious rage surging around inside me from those fights<<< >>>finally maurice took note of the calendar he was the one to make the connection between our arguments and day 23 of my menstrual cycle it was like clockwork and I never made the connection for hmmmm 27 - 13 = 14 years x 12 = 168 months<<< >>>I virtually became another person I was angry at everything and anything no matter what maurice said or even if he said nothing it made no difference I just got angrier maurice could have propped up a cardboard replica of himself and gone out for a walk I doubt that I would have noticed<<< >>>am I going anywhere with these two sad tales?<<< .......brain chemistry >>>we are all familiar with pd's physical symptoms and while some of us may be embarrassed about showing them in public we are all used to and even probably expect some level of empathy, understanding, compassion and accommodation from the rest of the world for our physical plight however when it comes to symptoms which may be deemed 'psychological' or 'emotional' or 'cognitive' or whatever it seems to me that a lot of people may be tempted to rush in and make judgments and condemn such behaviours as 'nutcase' I find myself sitting back and saying 'hmmmm' to myself between 'hormone hell' and cd I have experienced a ton of 'emotions' that have been purely chemically induced and had nothing to do with my so-called 'mental state'<<< >>>medication induced psychosis is just that medication induced not a 'mental condition' and not even permanent<<< >>>the way I see it medication induced psychosis is as real a possibility for me and for any parkie as any other drug side effect<<< >>>it seems to me that constant vigilance and intimate knowledge about our disease are both critical to our well-being and to our safety I have to consciously work at the former I am grateful every day for this list for providing the latter [log in to unmask] Janet and others: "Brain chemistry" is the key to this bundle of symptoms. I too have noticed "psychological" or personality changes in the way I deal with stress. Annoyance is my constant companion . . . lately accompanied by anxiety: - How long will the medication control my symptoms so I can continue to drive and work, etc.? - Why don't I get a uniform response from my dosage each time? - Are people distracted by my symptoms? - Why can't I seem to get a good night's sleep? - How can I avoid these painful cramps? - Will the exaggerated "gag" response I sometimes have be the death of me? - etc., etc. It is reported that anxiety reactions, "panic attacks," are a behavioral condition of PD reported in over 40% of PWP. Anxiety disorders in Parkinson's patients, "Amer J Psych", 1990, 147:217. The reported physical symptoms of anxiety range from an unpleasant sense of apprehension to those of PD itself, like increased tremor and dry mouth. If the anxiety and the response interfere with daily living, doctors call it a disorder. Doctors usually treat these symptoms with antidepressants (Prozac, Zoloft) or tranquilizers (Valium, Ativan), but some patients cannot tolerate these meds. Researchers believe that anxiety is not only brought on by the difficulty in coping with the symptoms, but is also linked to the neurological basis of the disease. Is anxiety a marker? Does the PD medication increase the susceptibility to anxiety? Especially PWP who battle with the "on-off" fluctuations. Anxiety may not be just a result, but also worsen the lack of mobility. In Panic attacks, "Acta Neurol Scand," 1993, 87:14, the authors raise the question of whether the anxiety is a sub-category of clinical depression. Researchers have studied whether the disturbance in the brain of a neurotransmitter, norepinephrine is implicated, or if there is an underlying change in brain chemistry in PWP. In summary - a "reality check" implies one has the physical and mental capacity to objectively observe the situation. The research on anxiety suggests we (PWP) need assistance in dealing with this problem. A good start at developing objectivity is a free NPF publication, Adjustment, Adaption, and Accommodation; Psychosocial Approaches to Living with Parkinson's Disease, 71pp. It can be ordered from the NPF, 1501 N.W. 9th avenue, Miami, Fla. 33136. Stephan 53/7