Vreni M.

Vreni M. has a husband who suffers from Parkinson's disease. Due to her husband's illness, she gives up her practice as a psychotherapist one year after the diagnosis, but continues to work on a limited basis for a longer period of time. Maintaining her "own" life is very important to her in the context of her role as a family carer. She goes to a support group for relatives of people with PD, which helps her a lot. Profession: Psychotherapist

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TEXT

From partner to caregiver

Vreni M. now feels more like a carer.

TRANSCRIPT

Vreni M.: Changed anything? I don't know. Then [at the beginning] I don't think so, but over time he became a patient and I became more of a companion. But I wouldn't say from the beginning, but only over time, when more and more symptoms appeared or all these Parkinson's symptoms became stronger. [...] Vreni M.: He becomes more of a patient and I become more of a carer and [...] initiator, companion, mother, yes. Interviewer: And was it also like that after the operation? So in those years when it was still better? Vreni M.: Yes, I think so. Interviewer: Somewhat progressive. Vreni M.: Yes, especially in the last one and a half years. And also in terms of sexuality, not much is possible any more, not at all, and the libido has also decreased a lot. Interviewer: In the last few months or also after the operation? Vreni M.: No, not after the operation, but rather in the last one and a half to two years. It's been longer than that.

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