In the second piece from our series profiling the bloggers supporting the World Parkinson Congress 2019, we talk to Sharon Krischer, AKA Twitchy Woman, who writes about the importance of having a positive attitude and how exercise can help keep symptoms at bay
Do you have a particular audience in mind when you’re writing?
Primarily people with Parkinson’s, and their caregivers.
Is there an aspect of Parkinson’s that you’re most passionate about?
Exercise. Exercise. Exercise. I work out four to five times a week or sometimes more. Every day is something different – tennis, boxing, yoga or cycling. I am convinced that this has helped me in my battle with Parkinson’s. I feel very strongly that people with Parkinson’s should find the right types of exercise for their individual situations, and make sure that they follow through and exercise on a regular basis. Don’t do the same thing every day. Mix it up to make it more interesting. Do something challenging. What works is different for everyone.
How widely read is your blog and in which countries?
I have about 800 followers and I reach between 1,500–3,000 readers per month. I also post on several Facebook groups that have wide international readership. Most readers are from the US and other English-speaking countries, including Canada, the UK and Australia. However, I also have readers from many other areas.
Have you been surprised by the global audience/level of interest you’ve attracted?
Absolutely. I started my blog because so many people were approaching me and asking me to speak to a relative or friend who had Parkinson’s. I believe that my positive attitude about living with the condition was why they were calling me.
The blog was a way to share my experience more easily and, ultimately, more broadly. I never expected it to go beyond those people that I had a direct connection to. After about a year, websites such as Parkinson’s Life started contacting me for permission to repost my blog.