Please take a few deep breaths, and exhale slowly! Do not panic! It is not the end of the world! I’ve had diagnosed Parkinson’s for a long time, and I felt the same way, when I first got the diagnosis. Over the years, my Parkinson’s has slowly progressed. The good news is that help is available to get you through this! Here are 10 tips that may help you to actively help yourself, going forward! First of all, it’s important that you have a supportive medical provider, preferably a bosrd certified Movement Disorder Specialist Neurologist! Second, you would be wise to have a supportive internist, or family Doctor, that can guide you with symptoms, like constipation, loss of taste/smell etc. should you have certain specific symptoms, other than the motor symptoms, addressed by the movement disorder specialist. Thirdly, please contact The Parkinson’s Foundation Society. For me, they provided a hospital instruction kit, and exercise routine programs, written out and on You Tube. Fourth, try to find out if there is a local branch of The Parkinson’s Foundation, where you can get local support and information, about Parkinson’s. Fifth, EXERCISE! Because of stiffness, and rigidity, I have found that a regular exercise routine, is absolutely essential to maintaining mobility! Sixth, maintain sufficient hydration, and a lean diet program, that you can live with! I use the Mediterranean diet! Nutrition is important. Seventh, Try your best to maintain a positive attitude, in spite of fluctuating symptoms. Eighth, importantly, if you are prescribed dopamine replacement medications ( levadopa/Sinemet etc ), it’s important that you take these medications as prescribed, and if you experience down times, it’s important that you let your neurologist know about that! Ninth, when I started having walking, gait problems, where I was shuffling, slowing down, seemingly almost involuntarily, my neurologist assigned me physical therapy, which I did for six months, practically learning how to walk again. Due to brain neuroplasticity, I regained my walking ability, overcoming much of the. slowness, and shuffling stiffness, that had been discouraging and plaguing me! I regained my mobility, after having Parkinson’s for about 15 years. Finally, my 10th tip is to buy Dr. J. Eric Ahlskog’s latest edition book, The Parkinson’s Disease Treatment Book! J. Eric Ahlskog MD, is a MAYO CLINIC Parkinson Specialist! Dr. Ahlskog is one of America’s leading experts on Parkinson’s disease, and his book has helped inform me on how to deal with symptoms that occur, and it is very informative, both for patients and their caregivers! i got my copy of this valuable book, from Amazon. The book is easy to understand, for patients, and is not all written in medical terminology terms! When I have many questions, this book gives good practical answers. A bonus tip, that has helped me immensely, is that I contacted the Michael J. Fox Foundation. They are very supportive of me, and enrolled me in their case study program, where they used my DNA, for testing and research! The Fox Foundation paid for my DNA testing, and I’m in a research study at Indiana University School of Medicine, as a result of DNA Parkinson’s Research. Good luck on your journey, of living with Parkinson’s!