Anxiety became part of my Parkinson’s experience before I understood that what I was experiencing was anxiety. I had never thought of myself as an anxious person, which made the physical sensations, racing thoughts, and sudden feeling of being overwhelmed difficult to understand at first.
You might recognize it as: suddenly feeling overwhelmed, racing thoughts, internal shaking, sweating, needing to get away from a situation, avoiding something because it feels like too much, or noticing Parkinson’s symptoms become more difficult when anxiety rises.
What This Feels Like to Me
For me, anxiety has not always looked the same. Earlier experiences could feel intensely physical. Over time, racing thoughts and the mental side of anxiety became more noticeable too. Driving somewhere unfamiliar, getting lost, navigating an airport, or dealing with a situation that suddenly felt complicated could create a loop where anxiety made it harder to think clearly and the difficulty thinking clearly created even more anxiety.
What I Wish Other People Understood
Sometimes anxiety kept me from going somewhere. Other times I made it there, but anxiety kept me from really being there. When Parkinson’s symptoms such as tremor become more visible at the same time, what is happening can look dramatic from the outside.
Maybe part of what I’ve wanted all along wasn’t for people to stop seeing Parkinson’s. Maybe I wanted them to understand what they were seeing.
My Experiences With Anxiety
I Had Anxiety Before I Knew It Was Anxiety
My firsthand Experience with anxiety beginning as something I did not recognize, how it changed over time, and the ways it has affected driving, social situations, travel, and everyday decisions.
Related Treatments & Devices
I have not found one reliable pattern or single solution that explains every episode of anxiety. As PD Through My Eyes grows, this section will connect to firsthand treatment Experiences when there is a meaningful connection I can personally describe.
Learn More About Anxiety in Parkinson’s
PD Through My Eyes is about my lived experience, not medical expertise. Anxiety is recognized as a non-motor symptom of Parkinson’s, but each person’s experience can be different. For medical information about anxiety and Parkinson’s, visit the Parkinson’s Foundation — Anxiety or discuss symptoms you are experiencing with an appropriate healthcare professional.