An interview with Snehal Amembal on Advocacy & Poetry on September 28, 2023 by George Ackerman, Ph.D, J.D.
Please tell me a little about your background.
I am a writer and poet, living in the UK for the last 15 years. I have qualifications in psychology and human resources. I worked as an HR manager for eight years before I changed my career path to full-time writing. I was diagnosed with PD in 2021. The complete lack of awareness, especially around young onset really motivated me to create awareness. Sharing of my diagnosis was either met with denial or positive toxicity. People do not know how to respond to this news, especially if it is somebody young who is sharing it. This needs to change.
Can you tell me more about your advocacy?
I primarily create awareness through my Instagram page. I speak about my daily struggles as a mother with two young children through short notes, poetry as well as reels. In order to motivate and inspire others who may be in the same boat as me, I also do dance reels to drive home the point that movement is in fact medicine.
What is your passion and how did you get involved in Parkinson’s awareness and hope for a cure?
I come from a culture where chronic conditions are not spoken about. These are always pushed under the carpet. I want to normalize speaking about conditions like Parkinson’s. You get told things like the evil eye has cast a shadow on you, that you are paying for your sins that you perhaps committed in your previous life. These statements do more harm than good.
What type of goals do individuals with Parkinson’s have when working with you?
My main goal is to normalize speaking about the condition and this can happen via talking about the various symptoms that the condition involves.
Another goal is to demonstrate that one can live well with the condition taking into consideration, the care and support system around them.
What would you like to see as a future goal for your programs?
To get rid of the awkwardness surrounding the condition. To make more and more people aware of the symptoms that go unidentified for years.
What events do you participate in?
Online events to create awareness especially through writing a Poem a Day during April.
Dance for Dopamine.
How does this also assist the caregivers?
Provides perspective and insight into the everyday challenges. Engaging with the larger community makes them feel that there are also others dealing with the same devil if you like.
How can someone get in touch? What is your website?
Via Instagram @mommy.snippets
If you had one final statement or quote you could leave for the Parkinson’s community, what would it be?
Parkinson’s disease made me realize that life is short, and time is precious.
For every bad day there is a good day. Movement is medicine.
References:
Amembal, S. (2022). To my children: What I want you to remember about me when I’m gone. Retrieved from https://www.mother.ly/health-wellness/young-onset-parkinsons-disease-essay/