Yes, people with Parkinson’s may sometimes hold themselves together around other people and then seem different at home. Socializing may take a great deal of effort, and once they are home with someone they trust, the exhaustion, frustration, or irritability may come out.

Parkinson’s can also cause apathy, depression, anxiety, cognitive changes, and reduced facial expression. These things can make someone appear rude or uncaring even when that is not what they feel inside. At the same time, Parkinson’s does not explain or excuse every hurtful behavior.

I would definitely discuss what you are seeing with the person’s doctor. Describe the behavior and when it happens as clearly as you can. The doctor may recognize a medication problem, mood change, or other symptom and have helpful suggestions. Sometimes we are simply too close to a situation to see everything that someone outside of it may notice.

Hi Phyllis We can have a face mask I did not get it the only thing that I got was trouble with my walking.O yes you can try to hide things that you feel embarrassed over but I never got rude to anyone or uncaring thats me but everyone is different as they say no 2 people with parkinson have the same symptoms now did the Doctor change his medication?when was he diagnosed I was March 2023 Phyllis I can only speak from then to now,Ask him the same question again and see what he says .you are only going by what he said last night .let's hope you get a better response all the best Phyllis
Therese Byrne ☘️ 🇮🇪

Sometimes a person can hold things together around strangers and then let everything come out when they get home. He may feel safest with you, and all the fear, frustration, exhaustion, and insecurity he has been hiding may come out as anger. I know that sounds backwards, but sometimes the person closest to us receives the worst of it.

Parkinson’s or Parkinsonism can also affect mood, thinking, impulse control, facial expression, and the ability to recognize how one’s behavior affects someone else. Medication changes may sometimes contribute too. That does not necessarily mean he has stopped caring about you, even though his behavior may sometimes leave you feeling as though he hates you.

If possible, attend his next appointment together and calmly describe the difference between how he acts with other people and how he treats you at home. Give the doctor a few specific examples. The doctor may recognize something related to the disease, medication, anxiety, depression, or another change and suggest ways to help both of you.

Please remember that your feelings matter too. Try not to carry this by yourself or assume his behavior tells the whole story about how he feels toward you. There may be more happening inside him than he knows how to explain and talking about it together with his doctor may help both of you understand what is going on.

Thank you. Some days it is really difficult. It’s as if he hates me.

It’s like it happened overnight. When I ask him why he appeared to hate me, his response was unbelievable. He started that he treats me the same as he always has, but that’s so not true. How do you navigate this?