"Life is too short. I can't control everything in my life. Trying to is exhausting!!" - member of MyParkinsonsTeam

When first faced with a Parkinson's diagnosis, a common fear is a lack of control over our health. How could our bodies betray us? How do we grab the reins back and fix the situation? Living with Parkinson's forces us to recognize what we can and cannot control.

Members on MyParkinsonsTeam have various strategies for letting go of control and fear, including:

1) using guided imagery to visualize letting go
2) opening up and trusting others
3) organizing or cleaning the house
4) reaching out for support from other members on MyParkinsonsTeam

Here are recent conversations from members on MyParknsonsTeam:

• "Bob and I have learned through Parkinson's and now this junk I have, just let go. It's okay if the world passes you by. Take care of yourself. Drop all extra activities... It's okay. Be gentle with yourself."
• "Anxiety for a caregiver is horrible. When he had a bad fall I used to lay awake at night fretting. But I've learned to relax, let life take its course, let go of anger."
• "Walking is the best thing for me. I clean my own house, not to the level I did a couple of years ago. Sometimes you just need to let go of what doesn't work."

Have you had moments of letting go just when you needed it most? What helps you 'let go' of things out of your control? Share in the comments below or directly on MyParkinsonsTeam.com.