Building Self-Confidence When You Have MS - Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Information, and resources

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For 5 years, Michelle Tolson lived a life many little girls dream of. She was a dancer with the Radio City Rockettes in New York City. Each night, she dazzled audiences from around the world with her precise leg work. Sometimes, she did 17 shows a week.

Tolson left the Rockettes in 2002, but she still keeps a busy schedule. Today, she’s a dance teacher and professor, and she judges dance competitions on the weekends.

And she does it while living with MS.

Like many people with the condition, Tolson notices physical changes in her body. “I started having balancing issues 18 months ago. Standing on one leg is a little more challenging. I have some numbness in my arms.”

She keeps her physical symptoms in check with medication and healthy habits, like eating well. But what about the fear that arises from time to time, like when she can’t execute a perfect dance move? Or when she worries about the future? To get through that, Tolson says, she relies on support from family and friends, doing work she loves, and teaching others about MS.

It’s important to find ways to keep negative emotions from getting the best of you. Here are five ways to keep your self-confidence intact.