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Lorraine wrote: > My father has recently been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, > however, he has instructed my mother not to let anyone know about > this. It has been obvious that there has been a problem for almost > 2 years now ...... He is being treated but he does not discuss the > details with my mother It is good that at least he sought some form of medical attention. It would be better if he would see a movement disorder specialist. You have not told us enough to understand his reticence, nor do you need to if it is not comfortable. Carol Cassidy wrote about denial. It is possible other things are going on as well. The following may not apply - it is just to illustrate "other things". My parents, who are now long deceased, had somewhat unhealthy attitudes toward their own respective illnesses. They carried self-reliance a bit too far by subtly conveying that if you became ill, regardless of what it was, it was from not taking proper care; by not wanting want to burden anyone else or cause any worry; and by maintaining an excessive sense of privacy, not just about their health, but about other things as well - money, politics, emotions. Regarding denial, there is a whole cultural tradition behind it. I am thinking of the Monty Python movie scene where soldiers who had just been in battle are cheerfully greeting their officers while ridiculously oblivious to their own horrible injuries. There is also the gender aspect. My wife, in fun, likes to describe me as "gender impaired". Phil Tompkins Hoboken NJ age 60/dx 1990