By Nicole Robinson
Living with multiple sclerosis has taught me a lot, especially when it comes to protecting my mental and emotional well-being.
When I was first diagnosed, I didn’t have it all together. There were moments of confusion, frustration, and a lot of questions about what my life would look like moving forward. While I still don’t have all the answers, I’ve learned that small intentional habits can make a big difference in how I show up each day.
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By Dr. Eva Jackson
Holistic wellness plays a critical role in improving the quality of life for individuals affected by multiple sclerosis (MS). This approach, recognized and studied by numerous organizations, focuses on treating the whole person rather than addressing symptoms in isolation.
When I was first introduced to life with MS, my care team did not clearly explain the importance of whole-person care. Yet, despite this lack of explanation, that is exactly the model they implemented. Soon after my diagnosis, a comprehensive and coordinated plan was developed to manage my symptoms. My care team included a neuro-ophthalmologist, urologist, MS specialist, sleep medicine specialist, and a physical therapist specializing in multiple sclerosis. At the time, this fast-paced, multidisciplinary approach felt overwhelming. In retrospect, I deeply appreciate how effectively each provider worked together. This coordinated care exemplifies the essence of holistic wellness and addressing physical, emotional, and functional needs simultaneously.
Continue readingBy Stacie Prada
Last year, my naturopath suggested I take deep breaths each day, and I agreed it would be good for me. I approached it like a prescription and made sure to do it. I followed guided meditations, and they were fine. I’d set a timer and count deep breaths in and out to meet the goal. It seemed good for me, but I didn’t love it or look forward to it.
Then I had an “aha moment.” I’ve long wanted to improve my singing, and I realized I could make progress with singing AND practice breathwork in a way I’d enjoy.
My inspiration was a music app. It would allow me to do breathwork and improve my musical knowledge and skills. Most importantly, it could be fun. I’ve now been doing singing lessons for a few minutes each day for 22 weeks. Because I want to keep my streak, I make sure I do it every day. I love that it’s a bite-sized daily commitment, and it’s doable.
Continue readingBy Angel Blair
When it comes to wellness and how we take care of our minds and bodies, there’s definitely some leeway as to what works for each person and what type of wellness is being referred to. If we’re being honest, I was never a big fan of physical exercise and fitness for myself. Not that I don’t think it’s important, because it truly is. I just never had enough drive or motivation to stick to a particular exercise regimen. I don’t take physical wellness for granted or disregard it in any way. It just took me some time to realize that physical wellness is merely one cog that makes up the wellness machine.
Mental and emotional wellness are two other vital pieces in the realm, and I found that these are the ones I can get on board with. Without knowledge of it, I was fostering these facets of wellness with things that I do in my day-to-day. And they’re things that I enjoy, go figure! They may not be obvious examples of wellness but that’s the great part about this theory. It can look so different and represent various things to people. There’s no “right” way to achieve wellness goals. What matters is that they support your body’s needs and promote good health.
I’ve always enjoyed writing, ever since I was young. It helps me to process things and allows me a space to be creative and honest. I also love to read. This activity provides a quiet restfulness and a chance to slow things down. The other surprising endeavor that I found nurtures my personal wellness is cleaning. I know, it sounds odd and a bit atypical compared to other wellness activities. But there’s something familiar and relaxing about it. I like the feeling of accomplishment it provides, and it also lets me jam out to my favorite music.
Maybe these activities wouldn’t work for you, or maybe they would. You may already have certain routines or tasks that bring you joy, positive physical effects, or a sense of purpose and accomplishment. But you may not have realized that these satisfying ventures are concurrently supporting your personal wellness too. Perhaps because you thought wellness had to look a certain way. What a pleasant surprise!
My name is Angel Blair, I am a mom to beautiful twin girls and hold degrees in counseling from schools outside of the Philadelphia area. I’ve worked with the MS community in the past, and am grateful for the opportunities I’ve had in helping others. I enjoy spending time with my family, writing, reading, and traveling.
For the average person, catching a cold is a minor inconvenience—a few days of tissues and cough syrup before bouncing back to work. But for those of us living with multiple sclerosis (MS), the narrative is often drastically different. We know that a “simple” bug can feel like a seismic event. As one community member vividly shared, “mundane ailments can knock us down for the count.” What might be a fleeting annoyance for our friends and family can hit us with the force of a freight train, leaving us drained and vulnerable.
Continue readingBy Stacie Prada
I created a vision board years ago that included images of women doing yoga poses I couldn’t do. I attended yoga classes weekly, and I loved how it combined calming breathwork with some of the gymnastics, athleticism, and flexibility that my multiple sclerosis issues had curtailed.
I placed the collage vision board near my makeup vanity, and I didn’t put a lot of effort into tracking it. About a year later, I looked up, and I was startled to realize I could do all the poses on my vision board! Without realizing it, I slowly worked my way toward poses that seemed completely out of reach a year prior. Dancer, feathered peacock, and crane pose had become regular movements in my yoga practice without any periodic notice or celebration. With this realization, my glee absolutely overflowed.
Looking back, I think about how dreaming and acknowledging my aspirations, combined with regularly showing up to yoga class, were the key. They helped me achieve things I hadn’t been convinced I would ever do.
Continue readingBy Angel Blair
I always considered myself a planner. I constantly made lists; I carefully thought out decisions, big or small, to get to the most optimal outcome. I loved comparing the pros and cons of possibilities for things to come. Though I have to say since having kids, the planner in me has changed a bit. I still try to plan and prepare the best that I can, but I’ve had to come to the very real fact that plans change – no matter how much you prepare otherwise.
Continue readingWe often talk about the “summer slide” when the heat wipes us out, but winter is just as complicated for our community. Some of us are celebrating the drop in temperatures, while others are dreading the daily pain. It really shows how different MS can be for everyone. We are all just trying to figure out how to handle the thermostat without losing our minds.
Continue readingBy Stacie Prada
December is the perfect time to reflect on how the past year measured up to hopes and goals. In January, I created a 2025 Bingo card that reflected various priorities I have. It proved useful and motivating as I checked in throughout the year. In November, I created a second Bingo card for the holidays that featured more self-care items, and it added a lot of value to my life. I didn’t complete every item on either of the Bingo cards, but I did a lot more of them than I think I would have without them.
Things I accomplished this year:
1. Dry January – 30 days with no alcohol.
2. Read three books – this one I exceeded greatly with the help of my local library.
3. Virtual painting party & complete a paint-by-numbers: This was a really fun project. I had a paint-by-numbers created from a photograph of my sisters and me. I gifted it to each of them for Christmas last year, and the plan was to have a virtual painting party, complete with berets and a photo op. It was a lot of fun, and now I have a really cool painting of us!
Continue readingBy Angel Blair
Time flies. You can say that again, and again, and again. It’s hard to believe that the end of 2025 is upon us and a new year is right around the corner. The year brought many changes, as the years usually do in one way or another, and either for better or worse. With it also came the same reliable sentiment that life is unpredictable, and to expect the unexpected. How time is precious and fleeting, and to take advantage of life’s special moments as much as possible.
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