6 June 2023
Many MS symptoms seem invisible to other people. They may affect you greatly but no one seems to notice. This can be very frustrating and upsetting.
It can be surprising sometimes. You might be clinging onto your shopping trolley for support, feeling dizzy or fatigued but no one seems to notice. Another time, your lip is set and your expression is grim but do they ask how your pain is today?
So, why don’t people see some of the more visible signs of so-called invisible symptoms?
Which MS symptoms are invisible?
These symptoms may not be visible to other people:anxiety
bladder symptoms
bowel difficulties
cognitive symptoms
depression
dizziness
fatigue
pain
sexual issues for men and women
sight problems
Why don’t people realise?
There are lots of reasons why people around you might not notice your invisible symptoms.
They don’t know you have the symptom
People aren’t mind readers so perhaps we expect too much from them in figuring out what’s going on. Will they guess that a grim expression means that you are in pain? Or will they assume that you are just thinking about work or your dinner?
If they don’t know, is it reasonable to expect them to guess and guess correctly?
They don’t remember
Maybe you have already explained your MS symptoms to someone, but they don’t ask you about them at a later date. Have they forgotten that you can’t walk for long when they plan an outing on foot? Or are they being mean?
Many people focus on their own lives and worries and don’t have head space for remembering anything more. It’s not that people don’t care, they just don’t get around to thinking about it.
They don’t notice
You may feel that your MS symptoms are really obvious. So-called invisible symptoms can be so bad that they show up on your face, especially if you are in pain. Surely if you are holding onto something for support it must be a dizzy day or a fatigue day or both…
It can be puzzling that others don’t notice something is wrong. As before, it may be because people are in their own world and not looking outward enough to see what’s happening to you.
They don’t understand
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