We recently shared an article with our MS community about living life in an MS ‘Bubble’. So many of our community members expressed feeling similarly to the author, Ashley, and feeling like they retreat to a mental hideaway when stress and depression of MS becomes too much to handle. Their responses were amazing, and we wanted to share some of them!
Preferring the “Bubble” to the Outside World
“The bubble is challenging sometimes, but it’s also safe. There are just some days where challenging myself isn’t worth the risk of falling, dropping things, etc. Trust me to know my limitations. I’m not lazy. I haven’t given up”
“Thank you for giving the perfect title to the place where most of us escape to from time to time as needed. People may not understand why we retreat to our “bubbles” but they are a safe place for us no explanation needed”
“I also live a lot of my time in a bubble…I sit with my back to everything, and play 1 level of 1 game for hours on my laptop. I tell my husband and son that I need to zone out for awhile and thankfully, they understand”
“I mentally prepare. No appointments, tell hubby having a recharge day, not doing anything. Sit, drink tea, watch lots of TV and/or read”
“Being trapped so much is why I’m on social media so much…I miss getting out, but I also really appreciate these online acquaintanceships”
Hiding in Your Bubble Instead of Engaging with Others
“This is just me. I definitely shut myself away in a bubble—90% of it was my illness, 10% was that I just found it hard to be around people. It’s hard to listen to everyone’s great lives when your own is crumbling around you”
“This is so true. I’m supposed to be meeting friends for lunch tomorrow, but my fatigue levels are terrible just now. I don’t want to cancel and I don’t want to let people down, but I also don’t want to fall asleep. It would just be easier to stay at home in my protective bubble”
“Sometimes people can be so cruel it makes me want to run home and stay there. I’m very comfortable by myself now”
Enjoying the Ability to Avoid Responsibilities and Daily Tasks
“Really! It can be challenging just thinking about moving or turning over in bed!”
“This is so right! People just don’t get how hard it is to do the simplest things. Like shower, get dressed, and go out. The first to get done. Maybe pj’s go back on and stay home is more like it”
“Thank you for saying it! Get so sick of people saying that going out will be ‘good for me’. NO it won’t! It will exhaust me and make me feel ill for days, sometimes weeks!”
“Hermits unite! Lol! People with NO energy don’t wanna move…let alone GO somewhere…”
“It’s just easier to stay at home than to get dressed which tires me out more than I can say”
“It’s just easier…I don’t even want to go on vacation”
Not everyone reported feeling safe and comfortable in their bubble, however. Some of our community members said they even try to fight the bubble as much as possible, and stay engaged and active. Let us know how you view or use your personal MS bubble, and how it affects your daily battle!
