By: Kate Durack

This month we are focused on staying positive while living with MS. I’ve written in the past about the positive outlook MS has provided me and I thought it might be interesting to pick the brain of someone (thing?) else on this topic to see if it generates anything new for me. So, I asked our new friend ChatGPT its thoughts on the matter. Here’s what it dished out:

Kate:

Why is it important to stay positive when living with multiple sclerosis?

ChatGPT:

Staying positive when living with multiple sclerosis (MS) is important for several reasons:

1. Mental Health: A positive outlook can help manage stress, anxiety, and depression, which are common in people with MS. Mental health significantly affects overall well-being and the ability to cope with the challenges of the disease.

2. Quality of Life: Positivity can enhance the quality of life. People who maintain a positive attitude often find greater satisfaction in their daily activities and relationships, even when facing physical limitations.

3. Symptom Management: Stress and negative emotions can exacerbate MS symptoms. Staying positive helps in reducing stress levels, potentially leading to fewer flare-ups and a more stable condition.

4. Resilience and Coping: A positive mindset fosters resilience, allowing individuals to better handle setbacks and challenges. This can be crucial in managing a chronic illness like MS, where adaptability and persistence are key.

5. Motivation for Self-Care: Positivity can boost motivation to adhere to treatment plans, engage in physical therapy, exercise, and maintain a healthy diet, all of which are important for managing MS.

6. Support Networks: A positive attitude can attract and strengthen social support networks. Friends, family, and caregivers are often more willing to engage and provide support to someone who is hopeful and positive.

7. Physical Health: There is evidence that mental and emotional well-being can influence physical health. A positive outlook can improve immune function, reduce inflammation, and contribute to better overall health.

Maintaining a positive attitude doesn’t mean ignoring the difficulties associated with MS but rather focusing on the aspects of life that are controllable and finding joy and meaning despite the challenges. Techniques such as mindfulness, cognitive-behavioral therapy, support groups, and engaging in fulfilling activities can help foster a positive mindset.

My Reflection on the Know-It-All, ChatGPT:

Well, first of all, I didn’t much care for the “Support Networks” response. Sure, it’s nice to be nice to the nice, but sometimes the nice need a place to be real and raw and that shouldn’t jeopardize their worthiness of having strong support networks. How very sterile and unhuman of you, ChatGPT. Otherwise, it’s a fairly strong response that does get me thinking about the strength in living with positivity. To me, the highlight is found in the final summary from ChatGPT:

“Maintaining a positive attitude doesn’t mean ignoring the difficulties associated with MS but rather focusing on the aspects of life that are controllable and finding joy and meaning despite the challenges.”

Living with MS IS DIFFICULT. No doubt. There are so many times that physical and mental strength can illude us, but utilizing our emotional strength can help us foster joy that can be richer and deeper for us because we have the ability to understand how precious all of this really is. We can compartmentalize our experiences and focus on the things that bring peace, happiness, and fulfillment if we so choose. I, for one, am going to keep trying to choose just that.