Running the Household while Living with MS

Facing fatigue daily or almost daily is a lot for anyone to get through, and it’s frequently cited as the most frustrating symptom for people living with MS. It’s especially challenging when anyone with MS also has to keep a house clean, get food on the table, run errands or do the same work they did before receiving the diagnosis.

And yet, you all keep going. We asked the Facebook community at MultipleSclerosis.net which household chores are Continue reading

Share Button

Meet the Board – Ann Baird Bishop

MSAA strives to be a leading resource for the MS community by improving lives today through vital services and support – and we could not accomplish this without the help of our volunteer board members. MSAA’s Board of Directors is comprised of accomplished professionals from across the country who volunteer their time to further MSAA’s mission. With our ongoing series, Meet the Board, we hope to introduce you to our wonderful volunteer board members!

This month, MSAA is proud to highlight our newest board member Ann Baird Bishop, Esq. Continue reading

Share Button

My life with multiple sclerosis can be filled with chaos. It’s at those times I need to pause and take a break.

Multiple Sclerosis Chaos

By Penelope Conway

Chaos to someone living with multiple sclerosis is different than chaos to a healthy person. Our kind of chaos includes a world of broken nerves hidden deep inside our bodies. The only problem is that there seems to be a sign posted at the entrance to this grand attraction that reads “No admittance to the general public.”

We have no way of showing people Continue reading

Share Button

Women and MS – Ask the Expert

Did you know that on average, women are three times more likely than men to develop relapsing forms of MS? While we don’t yet know the cause of MS, many researchers and physicians are working to clarify aspects of the disease and provide more information to women who may be affected by the condition.

In an excerpt from the cover story of our Fall 2008 edition of The Motivator, Connie Easterling, a nurse practitioner who serves as clinical coordinator of the MS Care Center, Neurological Services of Orlando, explains how Continue reading

Share Button

Recreationally resting and leisurely relaxing…

By Scott Cremeans

The idea of relaxation is simply subjective as everyone has their way of finding a happy hiatus. Some people find a benefit in working on tasks that they enjoy, yet others need to stop working altogether to find pure relaxation. Specific individuals need the assistance and support of good friends to find absolute cessation. Countless people require total solitude to attain relaxation, while many desire groups of friends to achieve an immersive intermission.

There is the idea of enjoying Continue reading

Share Button

Reaching a New Level of Rest

By Alene Brennan

I used to think I could proudly check off the “rest” category in my healthy lifestyle plan because I slept like a champ.

I would sleep about seven hours every night.

Rest is all about sleep, right?

Then my doctor would ask me what I do during the waking hours to rest… um… hmm… I never thought about that actually.

In my opinion there was always Continue reading

Share Button

Sound Advice

By Doug Ankerman

I’m a sound guy. I like to listen (though my wife would disagree). My affinity comes from a long background working in radio. Using words, sound effects and music to evoke emotions – that was my gig. It also helps having ears the size of a satellite dish. And no, I cannot get Direct TV – hardy har har.

Relaxing SoundsSince relaxation is the August theme of MS Conversations, I found it fitting to compile a list of Continue reading

Share Button

No-Bake Chocolate Chip Balls

No-Bake Chocolate Chip Balls RecipeNo-bake chocolate chip balls make the perfect breakfast, snack, or even dessert. They only take five minutes and six ingredients to make! If you need a quick pick-me-up or an on-the-go snack, this recipe is worth a try.

Ingredients Continue reading

Share Button

Strategies to Relax: Kick Back with MS

By Lauren Kovacs

That’s funny, relax with MS. Like being drawn and quartered is relaxing. It is possible, I think, to kick back. We often hear about not relaxing and it’s negative effects. Easier said than done. I know.

For me, I relax by trying several things. First, don’t beat yourself up. MS stinks for us all. Just acknowledge that fact. Distraction is a great way to relax.

I admit to putting myself in a “show-hole” frequently. I fall into those Continue reading

Share Button

The Value of Doing Nothing: Same Thing, Different Feel

By Stacie Prada

It’s interesting to me that the same task can feel stressful sometimes and relaxing others. It really shows that it’s not about what I’m doing, rather it’s how I feel when I’m anticipating or doing it. It’s how I judge the task in the moment.

Needing to cook dinner after a long workday may feel like one more burdensome thing that needs to be done, while spending hours in the kitchen baking or creating a new dish on a weekend might be a therapeutic activity resembling meditation for the focus and relaxation I feel.

The same can be true for Continue reading

Share Button