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
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
When I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, I immediately went into action in changing my diet. As a nutrition coach, it’s how I knew how to heal.
That approached served me well. It helped me to significantly reduce my symptoms – specifically brain fog and fatigue.
However, what I mistakenly overlooked was the way Continue reading
With the current coronavirus spreading, wellness is at the forefront of the news. I live in Washington state where the first confirmed cases and deaths from COVID-19 (the coronavirus) in the United States occurred. My neurologist’s office is in Kirkland, the epicenter of the US outbreak. We have a confirmed case in my community, and others are pending test results.
I’m writing this on March 8, 2020, and news updates are frequent. By the time I hit publish on this post, Continue reading
Here is my car. My loyal steed. Thirteen years old with 145,000 hard-earned miles on the odometer. Showing more than its share of bumps and scrapes. Door dings. And a couple of rust spots. Inside the carpet is worn in places while the driver’s seat has a stain of a long, forgotten fast-food burger.
“Wait a minute, what does this have to do with MS?” you ask.
Well hear me out. Continue reading
I have a problem with expecting too much from myself which in turn hurts me more than helps. This year I have made it my purpose to evaluate my life and simplify everything I’m doing as much as I can. Is that even possible? There are things I want to do, things I need to do, and things I need to let go of. Multiple sclerosis has definitely changed my perspective about everything in life.
Some of the top priorities for me are Continue reading
Experiencing life events and trauma can change a person. We all experience life milestones and challenges, yet they are so personal and timed differently for each of us that how we react or change is never the same. Losing a loved one or experiencing an illness is different when experienced as a child, a young adult or as an older adult. Our expectations and life skills are different at each point in our life, and what may be life changing for one may be life affirming for another.
As I reflect on how being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and living with symptoms has affected me, it’s difficult for me to Continue reading
If you are like me, I try. Everyday is new. We have a “new me” daily. Some days we are the broken car in the garage and some days we are a strong engine.
On days your engine won’t turn over, don’t beat yourself up. We all have bad days. Some have really bad days. Try to hold on to something. Chocolate is meaty, but it makes things better.
I have had days that Continue reading
By Alene Brennan
There a lot of emotions you experience when you’re diagnosed with an incurable, neurological degenerative disease.
I remember shortly after my diagnosis of MS, I read an article that talked about patients grieving the loss of the life they had and the life they imagined.
It struck such a cord, because it’s how I was feeling.
What do I have to stop doing now?
I knew Continue reading