The roller coaster ride of managing anxiety with Huntington’s
Navigating ups, downs, twists, and turns is part of life with the disease
My wife, Jill, loves the thrill of roller coasters. The higher, faster, and twistier the ride, the better. Most people scream, but Jill never feels calmer than when she’s on a coaster. She’s one of those rare people who can focus better and handle stress more effectively when an adrenaline rush heightens her alertness and energy.
Recently, we bought annual passes to an amusement park known for its thrilling rides. Because Jill is gene-positive for Huntington’s disease (HD), we try to do fun activities as often as we can, such as going to see musicals.
As we walked around the amusement park, trying to figure out which ride to go on first, Jill got quiet.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Something feels off.”
“What do you mean?”
“I feel anxious.”
Up until that point, Jill had been feeling fine, with no signs of anxiety.
While many people experience anxiety, it can take on a different meaning for those with Huntington’s. The disease affects regions of the brain responsible for emotional regulation, potentially amplifying feelings of unease and dread. Additionally, the progressive nature of HD and its uncertain timeline create fertile ground for anxious thoughts to take root.
When Jill feels anxious, I wonder if that feeling is a symptom of HD. Here’s the thing: Jill isn’t the anxious type. She was always calm, even on roller coasters, until the effects of Huntington’s began to appear several years ago.
But her anxiety has definitely been more pronounced lately, and so, when she felt anxious at the amusement park, I figured it had to do with Huntington’s. But she also has a superpower. In the Marvel universe, it’s called a “spidey sense” — a reference to Spider-Man being hyperaware of imminent danger.
Whenever Jill’s spidey sense tingles, indicating to her that something is about to go wrong, her intuition is usually right.
Her spidey sense was tingling at the park, and we soon found out why. We were three-quarters of the way through a ride when it abruptly accelerated and then stopped. When an attendant passed by, he explained that the brakes had fallen off, causing the emergency brakes to turn on and halt us before we arrived at the disembarking station. We stayed strapped in our seats for about 10 minutes until engineers came to fix the issue. Finally, we slowly eased into the station.
The image of a roller coaster is an apt one for Jill’s anxiety. There are ups and downs and twists and turns, and regardless of whether her anxiety stems from HD or her spidey sense, Huntington’s gives her one hell of a ride.
Note: Huntington’s Disease News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Huntington’s Disease News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Huntington’s disease.
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