Well here we are forced to be hermits with this virus going around. While embracing our inner hermit is just part of some MSers lives already, it is different when your inner hermit is forced to be a hermit. Having a choice to be a hermit is now not our choice.
In light of this, connections and support are essential. Sanity is imperative. Online or phone connections are all the rage. Face-to-face is Continue reading
It’s quite the understatement when I say that things across the country and around the world are very distressed right now. With the COVID-19 pandemic still impacting lives and dominating most news headlines, the virus has left most feeling anxious and concerned. We’re left with questions and fears. And to top it off, have mostly been confined indoors to socially isolate ourselves for safety. With many things unsettled and unknown, I find comfort in knowing we’re all in this together. Continue reading
Each year, we feature the work of artists affected by multiple sclerosis in our annual MSAA Art Showcase, including highlighting one artist each month as our Artist of the Month. This month, we are proud to feature artist Hannah Garrison of San Antonio, TX:
“They Might Want to Fall”
About the Artist Continue reading
Dreams are a wildcard—whether you are living with MS or not. For some, dreams are an escape from the physical limitations of life with multiple sclerosis. Others experience something different when they go to bed. Good or bad, the dreams and nightmares tend to have one thing in common: They are extremely vivid.
To find out more about these experiences, we reached out Continue reading
To our clients, supporters, partners, colleagues, and the entire multiple sclerosis community:
We truly hope that you and your families are staying healthy and safe. All affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic are in our hearts and minds every day. As the situation changes, the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) is also changing and we are following the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as federal and state officials. The continued health and safety for all affected by multiple sclerosis is critical to us. For those reasons, I wanted to share more about what MSAA is doing. Continue reading
This March, MSAA hosted a number of online activities with a focus on wellness through The Mind, Body, and MS Connection campaign. Each online activity highlighted emotional, mental, or physical health concerns of the MS community.
This is a significantly stressful and anxious time for everyone, and that can make it difficult to focus on wellness. As MS Awareness Month comes to a close, Continue reading
Wee-Ha! Phew, it has been cray–zee celebrating MS Awareness Month! Wait, what? You want MY recipe for mind/body wellness? Oh, I don’t know, we are all so very different. What works for ME might not work for YOU.
It’s like a recipe for chocolate chip cookies—everyone makes them a tad bit differently. Well, sure. If you are okay with it, here is my personal recipe for mind/body Continue reading
The knee bone is connected to the thigh bone; the thigh bone is connected to the hip bone, and it is all connected to the brain bone. Ok, so the brain is not a bone, but that line sounds better poetically. The mind-body connection is often ignored and overlooked, especially if there is nothing wrong. When something does go wrong, many people bury it deep in their psyche, like a squirrel that hides his nuts for the winter. This disguise over Continue reading
The concept of wellness can encompass many different pieces. However, when we hear this term the first thought that usually comes to mind is physical wellness. Maintaining a strong, healthy physique is a goal for many. So how can we improve our physical wellness? That is the million-dollar question that everybody wants to know—I know I do!
Physical wellness encourages us to care for our bodies through physical activity, proper nutrition, and positive thinking. It doesn’t have to be about Continue reading
Exercise is medicine. As a physical therapist, I believe that, and I teach my patients the benefits and opportunities that exercise can grant them daily. As a person with MS, I am grateful that I am able to exercise unencumbered by symptoms at this time. I know that someday, that might change, but for now, I’ll enjoy every minute of it.
I started rock climbing the year I was diagnosed with MS, which was also the hardest year of my life in school. Climbing was Continue reading