Making MS the Punch Line

Posted on July 25, 2018 by MSAA

By Doug Ankerman

Finding humor in situations is what I did WAY before multiple sclerosis became my dance partner. Writing jokes and doing stand-up comedy about the oddities of life and experiences was a way of dealing. So little did I know this skill (if you can call it that) would help me cope with an MS diagnosis back in 1996. Likewise, who knew sharing silly observations about MS would help others too. Helping them realize they are not alone. That what they are thinking, feeling and doing is not problematic – it is just a part of life with chronic illness.

For example, do you notice Continue reading →

I Have Multiple Sclerosis and I Still Smile

Posted on July 20, 2018 by MSAA

By Penelope Conway

When terrible things happen, one of the first things to disappear in the chaos is laughter. Somehow all the smiles and giggles that once filled the day get tossed to the wind and pushed aside giving other things more importance. Things like fear, anger, sadness and worries.

For many people, laughter just doesn’t fit in with all that’s happening in their crazy, mixed up world. I mean, how can anyone laugh when their life is falling apart. It just seems impossible…absurd…oh, so wrong. Continue reading →

Laughter Is Essential When Living with a Chronic Illness

Posted on July 16, 2018 by MSAA

By Stacie Prada

Sometimes feeling crummy and being overwhelmed makes a person forget to do things that didn’t take any thought when they felt well. It’s natural to focus on what’s wrong and stop thinking things are funny. It’s easy to let the hard things override any impulse to be lighthearted.

I haven’t really found a way to laugh at my MS symptoms. They’re inconvenient and sometimes debilitating, they’re an indicator of how much damage my MS has done, and they’re scary for the damage that may be yet to come. Continue reading →

Laughter Therapy and Other Research Highlights

Posted on July 13, 2018 by MSAA

Recently, MSAA published an article highlighting the vital information presented at this year’s Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and the Annual Meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC). This article, now available on MSAA’s website, features a large collection of research summaries, which provide a quick overview of the results of several important studies in the treatment of MS.

Topics featured in this article include:

Disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in research pipeline
Long-term efficacy, safety, and comparative analysis of approved DMTs
Wellness strategies, laughter therapy, and reproductive-health topics, including information on exercise, symptom management, pregnancy, and more

Read an excerpt on laughter therapy here: Continue reading →

How I Find Laughter in the Face of MS

Posted on July 11, 2018 by MSAA

By Alene Brennan

Incurable. Degenerative. Chronic. The weight of the words is heavy. The reality of living with them is even heavier. We can easily sink into the quicksand of worries and struggles or… we can find acceptance in this beast of a disease and sprinkle in a heavy dose of laughter.

Laughter is Medicine

We hear it often that laughter is the best medicine, but what actually happens when we laugh? And is laughter strong enough to take on MS? Continue reading →

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