I was working with a patient that has newly diagnosed Parkinson's as well as anxiety. She told me that she felt particularly agitated the morning we met. Her tremor was uncomfortable to her that day, emotionally. She was petting Sam and hiding her right hand that was having a tremor. I suggested that she pet Sam with that hand as we talked that he would not notice her tremor.
Twenty minutes later the tremor had subsided and she told me she felt so much calmer adding, "I wonder why"? I quietly pointed to Sam who was by then asleep at her side. She smiled in agreement. – Michele Cavanaugh (Christiana Care Wilmington)