Being in an intimate relationship is reasonably important to me. I’m married and we haven’t had a very intimate relationship for many years, even before getting Parkinson’s. I don’t really feel differently about intimacy than before I was diagnosed. Physical barriers I am experiencing to a satisfying intimate relationship include a lack of interest sometimes but I’m not sure that’s related to Parkinson’s. Sometimes I am experiencing emotional barriers to a satisfying intimate relationship. I have had counselling for treatments that have impacted positively or negatively on my relationship including medications or procedures such as Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS). The factors impacting on my ability to have an intimate relationship include reluctance to ask for help, anger, worry about the future, financial concerns and negative body image.
I have experienced a lack of sexual desire and feelings of reduced relationship intimacy. Strategies that have been useful or may be useful include focusing more on casual intimacy like kissing and touching, talking to my partner about my concerns, increasing exercise to improve mobility and stamina and counselling. I feel it would be useful for the App to provide free access to a Relationship Therapist for online advice specifically in relation to young onset Parkinson’s, for both the person with PD and the partner. I would like a Relationship Therapist to know about young onset Parkinson’s and the effects of Sifrol. The partner can have anger issues etc that their partner has Parkinson’s so can affect the relationship. Questions we should be asking children include how it impacts them, and their concerns if it’s genetic. The diagnosis of Parkinson’s had more of an effect on my partner but he is reluctant to discuss it, the unknown of what’s ahead especially when it can impact future plans you might have had.
