MJFF Guest Blogger Wojciech Wasilewski: "From Couch to Headstand - My Fight with Parkinson's"

Editor’s Note: Wojciech Wasilewski is a Polish author and equity analyst living almost 10 years with young-onset Parkinson’s disease. His memoirs are available on Amazon: To Beat Parkinson’s, You Must Stand on Your Head and Part 2: The Story Behind the Fight. He can be reached by email at wojciech.wasilewski12@gmail.com and on X at @BeatParkinson. 

When I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in my thirties, I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t feel strong. I felt tired, scared, and lost.

I was a husband, a father, and an analyst by profession. I was used to thinking in logic and systems — not in symptoms and suffering. But Parkinson’s had its system. It was slow. Progressive. Unstoppable. Or so I thought.

At first, I did nothing. No exercise. No diet. Just slow surrender. My weight went up to 286 pounds (130 kg). My energy disappeared.

My days blended into nights — me, the couch, the same shows, the same excuses. I withdrew from others. Fell asleep on trains. Lived in silence — even when surrounded by people.

And then, one day, it became too much. I looked at my son and thought, what example am I giving him? What kind of future am I building if I give up now?

So, I started small.

A short walk.

Then stretching.

Then yoga.

I changed my diet.

I introduced intermittent fasting.

I stopped using food to numb my fear.

I learned to live with hunger — and with discomfort. I learned to move when my body screamed "stop." I lost 110 pounds. And more importantly — I gained myself. I began doing strength training. I returned to the gym. I started to row. To sweat. To feel. One day, I stood on my head.

It wasn’t just a pose. It was a statement: This disease doesn’t own me anymore. That pose — uncomfortable, awkward — was symbolic. It meant: I’ve flipped the story. Parkinson’s may still be in my body, but it no longer commands my life.

That moment became a book: To Beat Parkinson’s, You Must Stand on Your Head. It was my way of reaching others like me — people who felt lost, tired, heavy, scared.

The response was overwhelming. Readers from around the world wrote to me. Some thanked me. Some asked for help. Some just said, “You told my story.”

So, I wrote Part 2: The Story Behind the Fight — a deeper, rawer account of what really happened. The fear. The failures. The small victories. The doubts. The decision — every morning — to get up and move, even when it hurts. This is because Parkinson’s disease thrives on fear and stillness. And the only antidote is action. So, move. Breathe. Fight. And if you fall, do whatever it takes to get back up, even if that means standing on your head. Just don’t stay down.

Editor’s Note: June is recognized as Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month – know that you’re not alone in Parkinson’s. Some people find support by talking with a loved one, and many find it helpful to connect with others through support groups and online forums such as the Parkinson’s Buddy Network or even exercise classes. Learn more here.  

Check out The Michael J. Fox Foundation’s resources for people newly diagnosed here. Additionally, check out the Foundation's easy-to-read, downloadable guides, where movement disorder specialist Rachel Dolhun, MD, and other experts provide practical tips and real-world advice for navigating life with Parkinson's disease.