Laugh at Parkinson's Tee Shirts!
One of the best ways to laugh at Parkinson's is to cultivate the ability to laugh at yourself! Check out these fun shirts that are great for the gym, around the house, or any time! READ MORE >
One of the best ways to laugh at Parkinson's is to cultivate the ability to laugh at yourself! Check out these fun shirts that are great for the gym, around the house, or any time! READ MORE >
Depression and Mood Resources from the Parkinson's Foundation
Depression is extremely common in people with Parkinson’s. Unlike many movement symptoms, depression is often successfully treatable. Overcoming depression often requires a multi-faceted approach —including medication, therapy and lifestyle strategies. READ MORE >
Depression is extremely common in people with Parkinson’s. Unlike many movement symptoms, depression is often successfully treatable. Overcoming depression often requires a multi-faceted approach —including medication, therapy and lifestyle strategies. READ MORE >
Mood: A Mind Guide to Parkinson's Disease (E Book)
This guide offerd by the Parkinson's Foundation explains what mood changes can happen in Parkinson’s disease (PD), why people with Parkinson’s might experience these changes and how to treat and cope with them. READ MORE >
This guide offerd by the Parkinson's Foundation explains what mood changes can happen in Parkinson’s disease (PD), why people with Parkinson’s might experience these changes and how to treat and cope with them. READ MORE >
Coping with Parkinson's Disease Through Laughter By Phil Horton, April 27, 2023
I’ve found laughing a lot every day to be one of my major Parkinson’s coping skills. Laughing or even smiling seems to break up negative thinking and can lighten up even my darkest day. And a lightened mood helps make my Parkinson’s less intolerable and a little more bearable. READ MORE >
I’ve found laughing a lot every day to be one of my major Parkinson’s coping skills. Laughing or even smiling seems to break up negative thinking and can lighten up even my darkest day. And a lightened mood helps make my Parkinson’s less intolerable and a little more bearable. READ MORE >
Laughter is key to happiness in our life with Parkinson’s: How humor has helped our family cope with my husband's diagnosis by Jamie Askari, September 5, 2023
"My recipe for a perfect night includes a delicious takeout meal and snuggling up with my husband, Arman, and our three children to watch old comedies in our living room. I love the freedom of not having to prepare dinner and enjoy cozying up with my kids, the laughter is what I cherish the most. When I hear my children and husband goofing around, it reminds me that although we are surrounded by Parkinson’s disease 24/7, we can be happy in spite of it." READ MORE >
"My recipe for a perfect night includes a delicious takeout meal and snuggling up with my husband, Arman, and our three children to watch old comedies in our living room. I love the freedom of not having to prepare dinner and enjoy cozying up with my kids, the laughter is what I cherish the most. When I hear my children and husband goofing around, it reminds me that although we are surrounded by Parkinson’s disease 24/7, we can be happy in spite of it." READ MORE >
Humanizing Parkinson’s with Humor by Allan Cole
David Foster Wallace once said, “There are forms of humor that escape pain, and there are forms of humor that transfigure pain.” With Parkinson’s, I have discovered that trying to find humor in distressing or awkward situations helps to humanize them—that is, to remind me that they’re fairly common and, typically, less worrisome than I might think—and humanizing them helps to transform them into something less dreadful, less threatening, less absurd. That’s why finding and using humor remains essential as I live with the absurdity of Parkinson’s. READ MORE >
David Foster Wallace once said, “There are forms of humor that escape pain, and there are forms of humor that transfigure pain.” With Parkinson’s, I have discovered that trying to find humor in distressing or awkward situations helps to humanize them—that is, to remind me that they’re fairly common and, typically, less worrisome than I might think—and humanizing them helps to transform them into something less dreadful, less threatening, less absurd. That’s why finding and using humor remains essential as I live with the absurdity of Parkinson’s. READ MORE >
Schorlarly Articles on Humor, Laughter, and Parkinson's Disease:
- The impact of humor therapy on people suffering from depression or anxiety: An integrative literature review (2023) This review collated and summarized findings from studies examining the impact of humor therapy (medical clowns, laughter therapy/yoga) on people with depression or anxiety, including children undergoing surgery or anesthesia, older people in nursing homes, patients with Parkinson's disease, cancer, mental illness, and undergoing dialysis, retired women, and college students. The results from this review may help inform future research, policy, and practice in humor therapy to improve people's symptoms of depression and anxiety. The findings indicated that most of the subjects thought humor therapy was effective in improving depression and anxiety while a few participants considered the effect insignificant. However, more high-quality studies will be needed to confirm these conclusions. READ MORE >
- Laughter Yoga, Adults Living With Parkinson׳s Disease, and Caregivers: A Pilot Study (2016) A study conducted at the California State University, Northridge found meaningful improvements in well-being for adults with Parkinson's Disease and their caregivers after attending a Laughter Yoga session. The study suggest that therapists and other clinicians could consider utilizing this unique technique with adults with PD to address co-morbid low-mood conditions and include caregivers in the LY sessions for support and their own benefit. READ MORE >
- Laughter is the best medicine: The Second City® improvisation as an intervention for Parkinson's disease (2016) A study conducted at Northwestern University. Highlights from the study: Improvisation may cultivate focus, improve communication, and promote well-being. People with PD enjoy improv classes and feel it is beneficial for their PD symptoms. Improv training can lead to improvement in activities of daily living in PD. READ MORE >
- Effects of eight weeks laughter yoga training on motor function, balance, and flexibility in subjects with Parkinson's disease The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of LY training on motor function, balance and flexibility in subjects with Parkinson's disease. onclusion: It can be concluded that LY has a positive effect on motor functional and flexibility in individuals with PD; therefore it should be suggested to organize some LY sessions for these subjects each week to improve their balance, motor function, and finally activity daily living. READ MORE >
- Effectiveness of Laughter Yoga Exercises on Anxiety and Sleep Quality in the Elderly suffering from Parkinson's Disease A study conducted at the Azad University in Iran. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of laughter yoga exercises on the anxiety level and quality of sleep in the elderly suffering from Parkinson's. According to the findings of this study, the practice of laughter yoga can be used as a complementary therapy, along with other therapeutic methods, to reduce the anxiety and improve the quality of sleep in the elderly with Parkinson's disease. READ MORE >
- Creating a Therapeutic Playful Dialogue with a Patient Suffering from Parkinson's Disease (1998) Dr. Shulamith Lev-Aladgem, PhD, teacher and researcher at the Department of Theatre Faculty of the Arts, Tel-Aviv University, describes his novel approach in helping a PD patient named Isaac. The work focuses on the playful, creative process offering an “optimal experience” of enjoyment and deep insight and thus, as a by-product, it may also lead to relief and emotional discharge. The “playful dialogue” cannot cure patients, but it can help them to live their life more fully and expressively. READ MORE >