Annmarie O'Connor: Three things I've learned since my Parkinson's diagnosis

Annmarie O’Connor first shared her Parkinson’s diagnosis in this publication in 2022. Three years on, she has written Twitch, a book that documents her story. Here, she shares what living with the disease has taught her

Irish Examiner fashion editor and Parkinson’s advocate, Annmarie O’Connor. Picture: Miki Barlok

Parkinson’s is like your college flatmate’s friend who, one day, takes up residence on your sofa. You don’t know much about him, except that he is fond of pharmaceuticals, keeps you awake at night playing video games, and has no intention of leaving. 

You wonder how this freeloader suddenly became part of your life and berate yourself for not spotting the red flags sooner. After some necessary reflection and self-compassion, you now have a choice: either call out the bad behaviour or learn how to co-exist.