MS – the invisible war on emotion

                                                                  

So you have been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Like every other serious health diagnosis, the news is really hard to take in, especially if you are feeling relatively good.

While some people feel relieved to finally get a name for all their unexplained symptoms and/or years of misdiagnosis, others will start going through the five stages of grief:  denial, anger, bargaining, depression and eventually acceptance.

Mourning takes place throughout many big life changes; we mourn the end of a relationship, the end of a happy era, huge lifestyle changes.We also mourn who and how we used to be. Being told you suffer from a condition that has no cure, that is unpredictable, that could put you in a wheelchair, that will change your life as you know it for ever and which comes with so many symptoms and side effects triggers a mourning state which could last for very long.

Like many other ‘invisible’ conditions, Multiple Sclerosis is sneaky; many of its symptoms are not seen by others and a few more are not even given much attention, although are detrimental to the sufferer. Of those symptoms are the psychological  impact MS has on people and also the emotional problems it brings with it.

Unfortunately, it is understandably difficult for others to comprehend how fatigue, pain, itchiness, body aches, trembling and tingling affect you daily let alone mood swings, depression and emotional ups and downs.

Saying that, you would wish for people in your life who truly care for you and love you to be actively helping, trying to understand and listen more, getting involved in learning and educating themselves  – you are right thinking like that.

With an MS diagnosis also comes loss;  you might lose the ability to do certain sports, to go to work, to think as clearly as before or the loss to control your emotions. Grieving and feelings of sadness could lead to depression which could last for a few days or even turn into clinical depression which lasts for much more and is more unremitting. You might enter an emotional roller-coaster with confusing feelings that will make you more sensitive and prone to bouts of crying or laughing for no particular reason.

Continue reading this patient’s story

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