In the midst of the holidays, with all of the shopping, decorating and parties, there is a moment when all is well. A moment when the chaos quiets and I am reminded of the true meaning of the Christmas holiday. It’s a moment that I’ve treasured since childhood and now living with MS, I treasure it even more.
It arrives Continue reading
By Penelope Conway
Is it time for bed yet? That was my first thought as I woke up this morning. I glanced at the clock and it was proudly displaying 6:30 AM. That’s way too far away from the sun going down and me climbing back into bed. I yawned, tried to stretch and yawned some more but only seconds passed. Now the clock says it’s 6:31 AM. At least it’s one minute closer. Maybe I can just lie here for another 720 minutes. Continue reading
By Lauren Kovacs
I admit that I am not always great at this. My approach to stress changes like the wind. Each issue or event is assigned its own thing. I often stress about stress. 2am is often my stress time.
I am a classic introvert. I am allergic to people, parties, or any gathering. Avoidance is often my plan, sadly. Kind of weird for a Continue reading
By Stacie Prada
In wellness circles, we focus a lot on trying to reduce, offset, and avoid stress. It sometimes seems like feeling anxious or overwhelmed is perceived as a deficiency in our ability to handle life. I’ve come to believe that certain life chapters and physical conditions are inherently stressful and completely outside the limits of what any well-adjusted, positive and active person can live through without physical consequence.
I once heard that Continue reading
By Alene Brennan
Tis the season to be merry and bright… unless you’re living with multiple sclerosis and wanting to just crawl under the covers at the idea of the holiday commotion.
It seems like all the symptoms of MS can be amplified during the holiday season. Why? Because as much as it is a wonderful time of year, it inevitably increases stress.
For some people, it’s “good” stress – the additional social events with Continue reading
No one likes to think about where multiple sclerosis may lead…not even me. But I can tell you from my own experience, ignoring the possibilities of progression is to live in denial and will only set you up for defeat. Trust me, I lived there my first year after diagnosis.
I chose to deny what was happening in my life because I was afraid of the unknown. Continue reading
By Doug Ankerman
Wearing the sash as one newly diagnosed with multiple sclerosis is an overwhelming experience.
Mind spins. Heart races. Limbs tremble (that being the MS part).
Diagnosis may bring closure to some questions. But now new challenges arise. Continue reading
As a seventeen-year veteran MSer, I am sometimes asked to advise the newly diagnosed. Sometimes I am the one to welcome the recently initiated into the fraternity or sorority of MSers. Questions get posed to me all of the time typically asking the same queries in different forms. Is MS a death sentence? No. You have MS, how do you look so good? Oil of Olay. What now? Live your life.
Then one gentleman’s query put me in a quandary. Continue reading
This is a process that is very different for everyone. It is not easy to face the monster. It is often a lonely quest. Questions, nervousness, unknowns, anger and shock tend to be its odor. Stinky.
My story is too long to write. You would get bored. It was so long ago and re-living it does not help me much. It changes and we change with it. Faith, for me, has been my only rock.
It started when I was 16 and involved nine months of Continue reading
Living with multiple sclerosis, I find I repeatedly need to accept my diagnosis and reality. I have moments where I feel great and totally at ease with my health, life and possible future decline. Other times I have symptoms ramp up, and frustration and fear can leave me rattled.
I’ve been living with my diagnosis ten years, have likely had MS at least another 15, and Continue reading