Tremors Reduced

By Facebook Group Member

I have been having great success with the Hope Shortcut programme. I have both Lilian Sjøberg and Gary Sharpe courses. The material really resonates with me and this approach together with John Coleman Rethinking Parkinson’s is really helping. The tremor I have been experiencing is much reduced and often gone completely. I notice how it ramps up when I am stressed or self conscious. My mood and energy levels are much improved.

What hasn’t improved is the slowness and stiffness in my right hand and leg. It is probably not noticeable to others but I notice when using static bike and when folding washing etc. any thoughts on root causes of this slowness? Left hand side fine.

Thank you all for your work

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Suggestions for Exploration

By Frederick Lowe

Your understanding of the many important factors that contribute to Parkinson's and the many practical suggestions on how to address them runs parallel to my learning over the last 5+ years. You are a man after my own heart. Love the Polyvagal theory knowledge. I knew somewhat of the importance of improving vagal activity, but not to the depth you have shown. Thanks. Totally agree with knowing how the Cell Danger Response is involved with being stuck in the inflammatory and alarm state. And few others besides ourselves appreciate the amazing role the fascial system plays in this, from head to toe. This is besides nutrition, movement, social interaction, meditation, breathing, eye exercises, inflammation, etc, etc. Big thanks for mentioning the Eye Guide. That looks amazing. Hope it is available in the U.S. sometime soon.


Now suggestions of a couple of things: 1). More exploration on the ramifications of mitochondrial dysfunction, all the factors that affect that, and how it can be addressed (so far, all genetic abnormalities affect mitochondrial function). 2) Learn about Stephen Kaufman's Pain Neutralization Technique work on rapidly, effectively improving vagal function. I believe it works reflexively via its effect on the fascial system primarily, but also probably the nervous system.

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Parallels with Trauma

By Dennis S.

I am 45 years old and I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2015, at an age of 39. I always thought about chronical stress as a possible reason for Parkinson’s and recently I discovered the Polyvagal Theory. I guess similar to you, the parallels between Trauma and Parkinson’s seemed to be quite obvious to me. I had the experience that Somatic Experiencing can be helpful. Later someone recommended your website to me and I feel excited that you see it like I do. Thank you for that. it is always good to know that someone is sharing your point of view. I will read through your articles.

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Correcting Dysfunctional Sleep

By Jacob Kidney, Essential Movements Yoga for Parkinson’s/movement disorders (ET/Dystonia)

I really love reading everything that Gary Sharpe has to write about his experiences with Parkinson's. He is always spot on. I know this is true from my own experience as well. My symptoms are always worse when I don’t sleep well. I love what he says here about sleep being the foundation for symptom reduction and moving in a positive direction.

So what can we do to have better sleep? I would love to hear what everyone does to help them sleep better.

For me, doing some sort of intense exercise earlier in the day and followed by a few different deep relaxation techniques/routines in the evening have dramatically changed my sleep patterns.

My sleep patterns were always very inconsistent all throughout college. Between working full time and full time school I would often go for three or four days at a time with only sleeping three to five hours per night. This pattern persisted for more than four years. It resulted in my tremors and overall health getting worse.

It has taken me two years of persistence to correct these dysfunctional sleep patterns to the point where I can manage my symptoms much more effectively and have begun to move in a positive direction.

This has been done by doing intense exercise every day. This can include biking, running,, hiking, weightlifting, yoga, etc. you need to effectively use the adrenaline in your body or else it is going to exacerbate your symptoms.

Then in the evening I will try a number of different things to help my body wind down and prepare it for sleep. This could include deep breathing, meditation, Yin Yoga, Restorative Yoga, and Yoga Nidra. I always have an air mister defusing essential oils and gentle soothing music while falling asleep.

Also, scheduling daily free time to rest and take a nap if I need it has been invaluable. Especially, right after doing intense exercise.

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Music is Medicine

By Consuela Harper

Gary, I love your approach, and the way you describe and illustrate it so well in this article. Watching the music and dancing video was a true delight. I also read your post about digital music as medicine, and wanted to comment on that because I felt so moved by it. I love this post so much!!! I can relate fully. I've said for a long time that music is medicine for my body. And it's a delight to see the videos of the effects of your music medicine on your body and spirit! :)

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Social Isolation

By Marva Lee Weigelt

What a revolutionary week this has been for me to integrate new understanding, launched by Gary Sharpe’s post about how trauma and chronic dysregulation affects other people’s perceptions of us in social situations. I had a giant aha that helped me understand and have compassion for my own mysterious social isolation as a child and well into adulthood.

Integrating that with my increased awareness after taking a class a year and a half ago and staying in touch through groups like this, I am able to understand that honing my interoception skills allows me to recognize virtually instantly when I am in the presence of a dysregulated person. I’m sure I’ve always done this, but without the comprehension of what’s happening.

I am using this raised awareness to great advantage in my peer support practice, and also observing how I am assisting others with cor-egulation.

Then, last night, in a community ukulele group I lead, I could understand why I was reacting as I was to a young woman who is a beginning player. It is quite clear that the rest of the group is having a similar reaction to her. In fact, one player stayed afterwards to talk to me privately about how the awkward young woman made her feel unaccountably “nervous.” I was so happy to have the language and concepts to help her understand what I thought was happening at the nervous system level. Then she said, “I used to be that way myself,” and I knew I had a new ally in building compassion instead of following the natural, but heartbreaking impulse to avoid and exclude this young person."

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Impactful Discoveries

By Julie Brown Sheil

I really admire this man. Gary Sharpe is a Warrior in the fight against Parkinson’s Disease.

He has been tirelessly researching therapies and documenting their effects along the way so that others can witness how he is healing himself. He also shares them with the world so that others can benefit from them, too.

He has refused to let doctors convince him that there’s nothing that can be done to slow or reverse symptoms. He has refused to become a victim of, or defined by, his disease. The best part is, he’s winning. He’s improving his quality of life (and that of others).

I follow Gary because once I found out I had neurological disease from Post-Concussion Syndrome, I began researching ways to help myself. Even though I don’t have Parkinson’s, I do have a chronic disease and I have found all of Gary’s insights (listed below) to be true in my case as well. Doctors don’t know everything. Specialists only know their specialty. Doctors chase symptoms rather than chasing the cause of the symptoms. Patients who are intimately involved with their own healing do better. Patients who think outside the box can make some impactful discoveries, not only for themselves, but for others.

It’s a sad state of affairs that patients are left to navigate their own recovery and healing. But it can lead to some amazing discoveries.

Gary is the reason I started my Mind Matters Mondays posts. I want my journey to be able to help others, to make it a little less likely that someone will have to struggle to find answers or relief the way I have.

Thank you, Gary, for all that you do!

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Co-Regulation

By D. Hutton

I experience chronic pain on a daily basis due to chronic disease. Chronic pain is mentally and physically exhausting. Part of my self care is co- regulating my nervous system with my husband everyday. We sit quietly, calmly together and observe how our bodies feel, just breathing/existing. We are in physical contact, sitting on the couch. We practice observing how our thoughts, conversation and emotions affect our nervous systems. Sometimes I get very anxious if he shows empathy when I don't want it. Sometimes we just sit quietly. I actually resisted the co regulation aspect of the poly vagal theory, but you were so persistent with this information that I finally tried it out. Life is so much better now!! Thank you for your persistence, dedication, and information Gary Sharpe!

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Helpful and Very Insightful

By Gilbert Paniagua:

I'm sure I speak for many, Gary, of how much your posts are appreciated, helpful, and very insightful. I'm especially appreciative that you use yourself as a "human guinea pig" and pass along both the good and bad results. I hope you feel better and I'm glad you're fighting not just for yourself, but for all those afflicted with this terrible disease. I'm honored to fight along with you.

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