I have a progressive neurological disease, cerebellar ataxia (specifically sporadic ataxia with multiple system atrophy). I am 61 years old and was diagnosed at age 36, but I stubbornly ignored/fought against symptoms for at least 10 years before this.
I can’t gloss over the difficult times, the times when I feel defeated. However, I chose early on after my diagnosis to be open and honest with friends and family (and myself) about my disease and the probable future. This helped tremendously to relieve some of my stress and fear.
The best way that I have found to deal with stress and “the unknown” is consistent exercise. I grew up skiing, hiking, running, snowshoeing, biking, etc. Gradually, these things went away as my disease progressed. However, I have found biking on recumbent bikes year-round, hitting the gym (including my home gym), physical therapy, and the occasional massage are incredibly therapeutic. Of course this is all very good and necessary for my body, but I believe that my mind benefits the most—that and having an awesome wife helps me tackle my fears!