Poppy
Art by Sherri Woodbridge, 2012
You’ve just gotten home from school. A conference. A training course. What is one of the first questions you may be asked?
“Did you learn anything?”
I remember coming home from elementary school and being asked by my uncle, “Did you learn anything?” No. No I didn’t. That was my response, because day after day that’s how it felt. That how it seemed. But days after days you realize you are learning.
I was asked just that question regarding the seminar I attended a couple of weeks ago.
“Did you learn anything?”
Anna Sanger Reed, one of the staff members of the Parkinson’s Resources of Oregon, came from Portland to Medford to teach a Parkinson’s Disease 101 event. She gave an overview of Parkinson’s disease (PD), which included general information regarding what PD is and who gets it. She went over the symptoms of PD, treatments and therapies available and other resources that are currently available.
Anna mentioned a study done on depression in PD patients and the results showed that the disease progresses faster when depression is involved. Makes you want to become a clown or buy one and have them around. Maybe not. Many people are scared out of their wits over clowns. I guess they can be intimidating with that big hair, those big lips, the big shoes, always hiding behind a painted face.
So, I guess that would be the anything I learned, which when I think about it, was good to know. Because so many people can battle depression in PD, it’s important to know if you’re one of those people. Do you feel ‘down’, ‘blue’? Feel lifeless, tired, like you’re dragging? No energy, you want to just crawl back into bed (if you got out) and go back to sleep? Are your thoughts focused on defeat or hope?
Because depression can be life threatening in a sense, it’s important to be aware of any signs that you may be struggling in this darkness and seek help right away from your doctor.
Most points made at the meeting were fairly basic as it was, after all, a 101 course. I always think it’s good, however, to refresh yourself on the basics and beyond, especially if the memory bank has issues. Anna presented the material very professionally and was very personable. There were about 50+/- people there, of all ages.
If you live in Oregon and would like a seminar/class presented in your area, contact Anna. She’s waiting to be of help to anyone who needs it.
