I've joined the FORUM as I'm hoping it may help me to understand how I can best support my Dad.
My Dad was diagnosed just over two years ago, and as a fairly stereotypical man doesn't open up about his feelings very often, although out of all of my family, my Dad and I have always been very very close. Since his diagnosis, he opens up to me about how he is feeling both physically and emotionally the most, and this is something that I don't want to have stop as it's really important that he feels that he can talk to someone about these feelings.
However, I am not coping very well, I can't tell Dad that his conversations upset me as I'm worried that he would stop talking to anyone, and this also means that I can't really talk to other members of my immediate family, as I don't want this to get back to my Dad. I am wondering how other people cope with the frustration of not being able to control the situation. I hate that there are questions that Dad wants answering that no-one can answer about how things will develop.
I hate seeing what Parkinson's is doing to his confidence levels, and how it is turning someone who was always a physically fit and active man into someone who doesn't want to go out as people will be looking at him.
Any suggestions on how other people have dealt with some of these issues would be greatly appreciated.
I hope that the above doesn't come across as too negative, just trying to look at how I look after myself, whilst supporting my Dad as best I can.