Hi, I’m Swati. I’m a software engineer, a daughter, a wife, and a mother to a 12-year-old boy. I’m also someone living with Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease (YOPD). This is my journey.

I lost my sense of smell years ago. I don’t even remember when it happened—it became a normal thing. We used to laugh about it, never imagining it could mean something serious. Even when I read that it might be linked to Parkinson’s, I dismissed it. After all, Parkinson’s was an “old person’s disease,” or so I thought.

A few years later, things began to change. My body felt stiff, my right wrist hurt, and I had pain in my leg when I walked. I blamed my desk job and thought a little exercise would make it better. But it didn’t. Slowly, everything became harder—my body felt heavy, and my movements became frustratingly slow.

When the pandemic hit, working from home made things worse. The tremors that had been mild became stronger and spread to both hands. Suddenly, even simple tasks felt impossible. I had to rely on my family for everything, and that broke me inside. I started consulting doctors over video calls, but no one could figure out what was wrong. They all thought it was cervical spondylosis or other common issues. I tried medication after medication, but nothing helped.

Deep down, I knew something wasn’t right. But I never imagined it could be Parkinson’s. There was no family history, and I was still young. How could this happen to me?

Finally, we met a neurologist in person. The moment he saw me, he said it was YOPD. I couldn’t believe it. We argued with him, hoping he was wrong. But a brain scan confirmed the diagnosis.

Hearing those words felt like my world collapsed. My family was devastated, but they stayed strong for me. I, however, retreated into myself. I stopped meeting friends, going out, or even taking care of myself. I felt angry, frustrated, and helpless. My once-active, optimistic self had disappeared.

I was overwhelmed by thoughts of my son. He was so young—how could he understand what was happening to his mother? I worried about how my condition would affect him, my family, and my job. I felt like I was losing everything that defined me.

For a long time, I thought Parkinson’s was just about constant hand tremors. I didn’t know it could mean so much more—stiffness, slowness, and the emotional toll it takes. But as I learned more, I started to see stories of people like me. They were thriving despite YOPD. Slowly, I realized that if I kept asking why this happened to me, I would only sink deeper into misery.

It took nearly two years to adjust my medications and regain some control over my life. Physiotherapy, yoga, and meditation became my anchors. Gradually, I started feeling like myself again. I could work, take care of myself, and even laugh.

Connecting with support groups and reading about others’ journeys gave me the courage to keep going. I saw that I wasn’t alone in this fight and that life didn’t have to stop because of YOPD.

Today, I’m still learning to live with this condition. Each day is a fight between me and YOPD. The days YOPD wins over me are getting lesser now. I have accepted it as a part of my life. Thanks to my family for encouraging me. I am a blessed person with sensitive people around me.

YOPD may be part of my story, but it doesn't define who I am!

My learning from this journey...

• Never ignore the signals your body gives you—your health should always come first.
• Lean on your loved ones and let them support you; you don’t have to face challenges alone.
• Stay connected to your community. Finding people who understand your struggles can bring strength and hope.
• Have faith that even in difficult times, life will give you the tools and support you need to endure.