My husband doesn’t experience freezing episodes where his feet get stuck to the floor and his body won’t respond to his brain. Who knows, it may still be coming, and it is helpful to know what to do as we prepare for what might be. So, we recite the phrases and practice the skills- STOP in our tracks, THINK about what we want to do, SHIFT from side to side, and then STEP forward with purpose. While he may not need it yet, I have found that this simple concept can be applied to many things I face in life.

We all need help sometimes when it comes to making decisions and these steps have proven helpful for me. When I am facing a difficult situation, if I stop myself before acting, I can take the time to think about what is really happening. How did I get here and what are the possible options or actions I could take to resolve this problem? Am I the right person to be doing it or do I need to reach out for help? What really needs to happen next?

After taking a moment, I can shift my way of thinking to make a decision based on facts instead of my personal needs or assumptions. I can plan a mindful approach to resolve the issue before stepping into action. I love the fact that by supporting him in his journey with PD, I have the opportunity to learn new skills and hopefully becoming a more thoughtful and caring individual.

If your partner experiences freezing, check out this article I found on the Very Well Health website called Coping with Freezing In Parkinson’s Disease.