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I am Marble-Constant - Introduction

I have been a writer for many years, both as a creative artist and an academic. I know words and have no shortage of them, but I have never considered that my voice as an individual was worth documenting in a journal or any type of blog that involved my personal story (or stories).

I was diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease (YOPD) at 34, about a month before my 35th birthday, after nearly a year of tremendous suffering.

The journey from my PCP being concerned I had MS (which I had little awareness of and was immediately relieved to learn it was Parkinson’s disease, which was one of the few neurological diseases I was aware of) to having each specialist put me into smaller categories that eventually led me to the serious question of YOPD, which was confirmed with the tremendously successful trial of Carbidopa / Levodopa that supported every clinical symptom I had been dealing with for years.

I had no idea so many of the different random health issues I had been suffering were all connected to this singular disease.

Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would reach the point in my suffering that I prayed for a Parkinson’s diagnosis if it meant there was some relief to be had. That is the low I hope no one ever has to experience, and if you have, I hope that we can connect- regardless of what trials you face (YOPD or no).

I am here to write, to learn, to grow, to connect, and to hope my voice is not lost on a community of people who might understand, when the body of people I have largely known my entire life are still wrestling too greatly with their own processing of this to handle the gravity of it.

More to come.

#ParkinsonsDisease #MightyTogether #ADHD #Autism #DegenerativeDisease #Grief

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Hello. I am new here. I'm hoping The Mighty and the groups within will be a help for me. And as soon as I get more familiar with it, I hope that my sharing will help others as well. I've struggled with mental wellness for as far as I can remember and am at a point in my life, with chronic pain issues mixed in, where it has become the most disruptive to daily living than it ever has before. I feel like every day is a fight, mentally and physically. I've decided to take time to look within and try to learn and hopefully, discover what changes are appropriate to make or things I can do to cope on the days when I feel all I am capable of is breathing. I call those days my dark days and there are more of them than not. It was alarming to me when I realized I was defining it a good day when at least part of it wasn't so dark. It has lead me to feeling ashamed, guilty, and worthless. My husband is supportive, however I don't like to share too much with him, about how big my struggle has become and what I go through, because I feel like I'm being a burden and don't want to bring him any worry or stress, as well as be a negative existence in his life. So I hide how bad I feel most of the time, which isn't easy. I'm a currently, non-practicing nurse, a wife, a mother to 4 grown children, and a grandmother to 12. I am very blessed, however I feel like I'm extremely falling short of being the best I can be to my family. And it's been hard to play a very active role in their lives for a while now. I almost panic when I have to interact for any length of time and get overwhelmed quite easily. The physical problems are contributing as well, and I can't help but wonder if they have been produced by my mental health issues. I think that about sums it up. Thank you for "listening". #ChronicDepression #Anxiety #Fibromyalgia #Osteoarthritis #DegenerativeDisease #PeripheralNeuropathy #CarpalTunnelSyndrome

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rework of painting #Art #ArtTherapy #DegenerativeDisease

I have convinced the buyer of this painting to give it back to me and destroy it! with the aim of creating something new from this process. Creation and distribution are constant cycles and this idea has started to become more prevalent in my work. It’s a brave move by the owners, let’s hope I can return it in its transformation and they like it. Watch this space, I will share the finished painting after I have attacked it with an electric sander 😳 #DegenerativeDiscDisease #Disability #mightywarriors #Spoonie