Dealing with stress is often a challenge, even when we are not living through a pandemic. While stress is a natural reaction for the body to feel, too much stress for too long can cause harm. For anyone with a chronic health concern, such as multiple sclerosis, sustained stress can lead to worsening MS symptoms. Whether needing relief from emotional or physical stress, finding ways to relax is an important part of any wellness care. MSAA offers a number of resources to help combat stress. Here are a few of our most recent programs highlighting wellness:

Better Symptom Management through Wellness

This 30-minute MSAA Podcast episode features guests Mary Rensel, MD and Amy Sullivan, PsyD, of the Cleveland Clinic’s Mellen Center for MS. Learn about brain health and strategies to improve MS care through nutrition, exercise, mindfulness, and overall healthy living.

Keeping it Simple: Everyday Mindfulness for People Living with MS

Presented by Marriage and Family Therapist Cheryl Young, this one-hour recorded webinar explores Mindfulness and ways to bring balance and calm into your life. This program offers practical coping skills to better manage life’s stressors and help decrease anxiety, depression, and fear. In addition, hear from two MS clients who share their personal experiences with using Mindfulness to overcome fears and challenges.

Yoga and MS: Start Where You Are

Follow along with yoga therapist Kimberly Castello as she demonstrates basic yoga moves in this one-hour archived webcast. Learn about how breathing and therapeutic movements can be integrated into a daily routine. This program features mostly seated positions and includes mountain pose, cat and cow, plank to cobra, and others.

If you are looking for other resources for strategies to combat stress, you can read MSAA’s 2015 Summer/Fall edition of The Motivator or take a look at the Overall Wellness section of MSAA’s website.