Billy McLaughlin was on top of the world in the late 1990's. A successful guitarist with thousands of fans, the Minnesota-based musician was a busy performer and recording artist. Then in 1998, the unthinkable happened. Billy's right hand began to spasm. His doctors eventually diagnosed focal dystonia. In time, his symptoms grew so severe he could no longer perform his own music on stage or in the recording studio.

Faced with a staggering loss, McLaughlin refused to give up. Once he accepted that he could no longer play guitar with his dominant right hand, he relearned how to play with his left -- an amazing musical feat. In 2006, McLaughlin released a comeback album entitled"Into the Light" and returned to the concert stage.

For more about Billy McLaughlin, his concert schedule, CDs and work on behalf on others with dystonia, visit www.billymclaughlin.com Some of his videos are featured on the Videos section of this website.

Spirited Movement caught up with Billy McLaughlin just as he was getting ready to leave for concert dates in China and the Philippines. "I am focused on why dystonia isn’t an obstacle, and that brings me a lot of joy,” he says.

Are you part of a particular religion or faith tradition?

I am a practicing Christian -- and an unorthodox Christian. I am very open minded about how spirituality expresses itself cross culturally. I am ecumenical.”

How does spirituality fit into your life as an artist?

“The mystery of composition and where the power originates within art centers around the spiritual . . . to be a creative person is to engage in your own spirituality.”

How did you cope when you found you could no longer play your music?

"Even after I had my diagnosis confirmed at Mayo, I exhibited classic raging denial. For one and a half years I continued to try to practice my way out of it. With dystonia, symptoms can vary sometimes depending on the day, and I would try to trick myself into thinking it would go away. At the point I accepted it I realized what I would need to do to play at a high enough level. I had to flip the guitar over and get the healthy hand on the strings.”

What gave you the inspiration and strength to relearn how to play with your left hand?

“I was a busy performer and I found a lot of joy in that. For me music is a connecting point and why I am on the planet. I am here to love people through music . . . . Once you have tasted it, you don’t want to give it up. It connects me with my sense of purpose to participate in this mystery, the performing arts.”

How has this experience changed you?

“Every note I play has that much more meaning than it did before.”

How has your experience with dystonia changed your view of God?

“I’ve found that faith is more of a verb, an action. It is a choice to be a faithful person. If I lost my faith, I would have stopped practicing (the guitar). I did spend more than a year away from it after initially trying a left handed guitar. But then I went back. If I have any regrets, I should have believed sooner that I could do it.”

What advice would you give people with dystonia or other movement disorders who feel like giving up?

“Stop focusing on what is broken and start focusing on what works. It is incredibly profound and can effect how you get out of bed in the morning. It’s not that the dystonia has gone away. I have chosen to focus on what I can do. There is life after diagnosis . . . . I feel confident that my most important work is ahead of me.”