Yesterday I gathered from podcast that happiness can be derived from having NO problems. Huh? Isn't that just another way of saying 'count your blessings'.
After reading ST writer Andy Ho's article "How dad talked through Parkinson's", the true meaning of the above statement dawned on me. Andy Ho's poignant and informative description of his dad's struggles with Parkinson brings out starkly not only the physical impairment but the mental pain of dementia patients. It is quite heart wrenching to read the mental torture of not being able to control the flux of mental energy that switches on and off. Knowing that one's body and mind are on accelerated degeneration also leads to panic, anger and depression. The charge of mental energy that comes about when medication takes effect is not a complete relief either because the patient feels he is not really himself as he experiences a "frenetic level of activity" beyond his control. Quoting Andy Ho's description of his father "He felt that his old and real self was 'still inside', imprisoned by a new self that irritatimgly made its presence known to all and sundry through this disharmonious 'outer ' body".
In addition to the above there is also the physical contortions and "involuntary abnormal movements brought about by the medication. "Mind and body were no longer united", the reader can sense the patient's struggle to regain a semblance of his true self. Apparently more people in their 40s are now being diagnosed to suffer from Parkinson disease in Singapore. This brings to mind an ex-colleague in his 50s who is medically boarded out.
We often tell people "Just be yourself". To do that we just need to relax and let our body and mind go with the flow. We have NO problem doing that if we choose to. Isn't that something to treasure and be happy about.
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