I have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s. What comes next?

If you have just been given a diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease, you may be feeling a whole host of emotions and unsure of quite what to do next. If so, do not worry, it’s completely understandable and natural to be feeling like this and we are here to help!

When you consider the main symptoms of Parkinson’s, such as having a tremor, having movement difficulties, and having muscular issues, you may be wondering what on earth it’s got to do with a neuropsychological clinic and why you might meet with us? Although those are the main symptoms, additional symptoms can also include mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, or memory problems. A neuropsychologist or neuropsychiatrist is well-equipped to help with all the symptoms mentioned and provide support that may help you in your day-to-day life. As Parkinson’s is a progressive condition, how people choose to have support can vary. Some people choose to visit us at the clinic right after being diagnosed, while other people may prefer to wait until they feel they need extra assistance. It is completely your decision; however, we are always happy to talk you through the different pros and cons of waiting or not!

When you come and visit us at the London Neurocognitive Clinic, we will complete a thorough neuropsychological assessment to understand where any difficulties may present at this point. With a progressive condition, it can sometimes be beneficial to redo assessments over time, to see whether any changes in cognition have occurred. Following this, our highly qualified team will evaluate your assessment and identify what pathway they think may be best. It may be that the condition is quite mild to start with, so a therapy such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) might be a good starting point, so you are able to work through the emotions you are feeling in regards to your diagnosis. In addition to this, if your condition is more advanced, we are able to help in more practical ways as well, such as serving as an expert witness if you are applying for any disability benefits such as PIP.

As Parkinson’s progresses, the symptoms may make daily life more difficult and the activities you most enjoy may become harder to do. This can, of course, make you feel distressed or angry. However, this is where we are able to help. We can explore your feelings with you, and your feelings specifically towards things you enjoy doing. Working together, we can search for different ways to complete activities you love, or come up with extra support, such as speaking to family members or close friends about your feelings. At the London Neurocognitive Clinic, we focus on embracing your strengths and working around difficulties in a creative and compassionate way to rediscover who you are, rather than focusing heavily on limitations of your diagnosis.

So please reach out for a free consultation to see how we can help!