Combat Stress – Relaxation Strategies from MSAA

Posted on August 12, 2020 by MSAA

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: Continue reading →

Relax, Chill

Posted on August 10, 2020 by MSAA

By Lauren Kovacs

This, unfortunately, is a battle most MS folks fight daily. I do. Each situation requires a custom battle to fight stress. We have to adapt. Change our warrior armor based on the battle ahead.

I find a day might be needed to access the situation, if multiple days of Continue reading →

Needed Now More Than Ever

Posted on August 7, 2020 by Angel Blair

Stress. One tiny word that packs a big punch. With everything that’s been going on in the world, this little term has been doing its part in wreaking havoc. Maybe it’s not all bad—some stress can be good to help with productivity in certain situations. But overall, stress can really take a toll on the mind and body. And finding ways to reduce stress that works for you may take some time. To be honest, I often find it hard to relax and decompress. Just thinking of ways to try to relax can sometimes Continue reading →

Safety Precautions Can Be Extra Challenging for Those with MS

Posted on July 31, 2020 by MultipleSclerosis.net

Living through the COVID-19 pandemic is difficult for everyone. However, it is certainly more challenging and stressful for anyone with a health complication, especially MS. In particular, quarantine and some safety precautions come with unique challenges for those with MS.

To hear more about how the MS community is handling COVID-19 protective measures, we asked our Facebook community: “What safety precautions have you found to be the most challenging with MS?”

More than 100 community members weighed in. Here is what you had to say. Continue reading →

Out of Sight – Not So Out of Mind

Posted on July 29, 2020 by Selena Fisher

Visual disorders are among the list of hidden symptoms associated with MS. Challenges with eyesight are typically considered early symptoms of MS. You could walk by a stranger on the street, and you would never know that they have MS. Hidden symptoms of MS are just that, hidden from the world. However, they are very real experiences for MS warriors. Out of sight is not always so out of mind for MS fighters. Continue reading →

Hidden and Invisible Problems with Multiple Sclerosis

Posted on July 20, 2020 by MSAA

By Penelope Conway

How do you explain the hidden and invisible problems with multiple sclerosis?

Every week when the nurse comes to my house I’m always asked the same questions. Am I experiencing any pain? What kind of pain? How does it feel? How’s my appetite? Bowel movements? Swallowing troubles? Breathing? It takes the entire visit to explain everything. Pain shifts moment by moment from Continue reading →

Knowledge of MS Progression is its Own Invisible Symptom

Posted on July 15, 2020 by MSAA

By Stacie Prada

Many health conditions and symptoms are never seen by others and remain unknown to the people in our lives until we talk about them. Even then, what our friends and family members see and what we tell them don’t match. The disparity between how we look and how we feel makes it hard for others to believe it’s as much of an issue as we say.

Some of my invisible symptoms are widely shared by many people with multiple sclerosis. There’s fatigue, Continue reading →

Some things aren’t easy to see

Posted on July 13, 2020 by Angel Blair

When it comes to MS symptoms, there is a real variety in what individuals experience. This is one of the reasons why making an MS diagnosis is so challenging. Its symptoms can look different from person to person. No two people have the same MS disease course. This can make it hard to understand exactly how the condition impacts someone. Its uniqueness acts as a detriment at times when trying to explain or educate others about MS. It is assumed that symptoms will look the same and that outcomes will match, but this is not always the case.

One of the most common symptoms of MS can be cognitive challenges. This wasn’t always Continue reading →

MS and Self-Care During the Quarantine

Posted on June 29, 2020 by MultipleSclerosis.net

For most people, living through the quarantine is one of the most challenging and unnerving experiences ever. And yet, it can also be a time of boredom, as many are kept away from the places of everyday routines, from gyms to community pools.

To not just make it through but thrive during this time requires a heightened attention to self-care.

To hear more about how those in the multiple sclerosis community are handling Continue reading →

Summer: Once My Favorite Time of Year, But Not So Much Anymore

Posted on June 24, 2020 by MSAA

By Penelope Conway

What can I say? Summertime is hot, muggy, sweltering, and sweaty. It used to be my favorite time of year for concerts in the park, trips to Six Flags to enjoy water rides and death defying trams that sent you into another universe altogether, cookouts, vacations, open windows with cool breezes blowing, family time, and relaxing by the pool. Continue reading →

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