There are a lot of uncertainties one must face while battling MS, and its symptoms vary widely among individuals. For newly diagnosed individuals, this can be a scary and unsettling journey without knowing what to expect down the road. Below are a few things you can suggest to someone who has been recently diagnosed with MS:

• Become familiar with the symptoms, treatments, and how MS can fluctuate over time
• Make an appointment with a neurologist as they will be able to put you on medications to manage your symptoms as well as FDA-approved disease modifying drugs to delay the progression of MS
• Get in touch with MS organizations that can provide valuable resources, educational materials, and recommend events to support you
• Living with MS can be very isolating. Encourage them to join a support group where they can share conversations, thoughts and navigate daily challenges. For those who would prefer peer to peer support, MSAA offers an online peer-to-peer forum, My MS community ( My MSAA Community Online Forum | MSAA), through which individuals can share common experiences.
• MSAA provides a useful shared decision-making tool known as the My MS Manager app (My MS Manager™ Mobile App | MSAA). This HIPAA compliant mobile phone application enables the user to track symptoms and share vital information with providers through a secure portal

Providing empathetic and compassionate support to individuals with MS will go a long way in supporting them emotionally and mentally.  You can empower and inspire them so that they know that they are not alone on this journey. The power to fight MS lies within you!