Is there a connection between mental health and MS?

@denli, you must be so confused and concerned about your son's recent choices and decisions. And especially concerning seems to be that he can't explain why. Do I have that right?

You ask if there is a connection between mental health and multiple sclerosis. Depression and anxiety are not uncommon when diagnosed with a serious and chronic condition. Such a diagnosis is in itself life changing and an emotional rollercoaster.

I found this helpful article about MS and mental health that you might find useful.
- Multiple Sclerosis and Mental Health: 3 Common Challenges https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/multiple-sclerosis-ms/multiple-sclerosis-and-mental-health-3-common-challenges

Do any of these behaviors explained in the article sound familiar? Has your son talked to his doctor about this?

I struggle with my mental health in a way I feel my MS brain takes over the way I think, behave and treat others. I think I am normal until someone tells me I am not and asks who are yiu
you? I do feel I have been in dark places but I feel I try not to spiral. It all tires me out and at the same time my symptons such as my gate and balance worsen. Anyone experience this?

I had to check above to make sure I didn't write this post!!😂😂
I'm in the same boat. Trying to keep a positive attitude and view on life is MT greatest challenge. I'm losing my walking. It makes me so angry.

Hi, @denli - I wanted to let you know that I moved your recent post here to join with your other post on a very similar topic. I trust this makes sense.

Very glad you've connected with @sandy8043, who seems to echo some of your sentiments about MS and mental health. sandy8043 - I do not have MS personally and cannot imagine losing my walking, but I know that walking around is core to just being a functioning human being. I would think that would be really, really hard.

I'm tagging other members who have talked about multiple sclerosis to see if they can relate to what you've talked about here with feeling as though MS takes over your brain and the way you think, behave and treat others, denli. Feeling as though you hit dark places, and also deal with symptoms in your gait and your balance, are an awful lot to deal with. Please meet, if you've not already, @westwoman3698 @teresasangel @elbony1986 @recruiterbreedm @donnavanpelt @wahoochar. @jakedduck1 also may have something to say about the link between an MS diagnosis and mental health.

In what types of scenarios are others telling you that you are not normal, denli?

@lisalucier

I think you have me mistaken for another person '@denli. My name is Donna Van Pelt whch I see is listed above.

@donnavanpelt - I tagged you as I see you've mentioned MS in previous posts. I thought you might share with @denli about whether you feel MS impacts your mental health at all?

Hi - Im sorry I misunderstood the first email - had a bad thinking day. The worst of many symptoms for me are cognitive issues. My neurologist told me the symptoms all aging adults experience are the same with MS only worse. MS has changed my biological brain to be in anxiety mode all the time. There are different levels which I will try to explain. I hope Im not scaring you but I dont have any idea of what you are looking for. I started writing so I cant forget what Ive experienced. The following is my general living with MS and then anxiety which is unfinished. Please let me know if there are any specifics you would like to discuss.

Life’s Journey with MS

Living with MS is a struggle nearly every day
Fortunately there are some days that float in the wind in a sun filled sky
Other days are weighed down by countless limitations sinking into darkness
Even worse are the days that questions if life is even worth living

After the initial diagnosis there was a short lived relief
Followed by a devastating sadness
Questioning what to expect for the remainder of life

MS is a paradox
It’s perplexing that a disease can biologically cause changes in the brain including anxiety and depression
And yet it also can be a side effect from just having the disease itself with an unknown future
The absurdity is astonishing

Encounters with people who don’t quite understand MS
Explaining at times leads to feelings of pity from the listener
That is the last thing needing to be dealt with
They mean well but add to the burden of the day

Mindset is everything
Adjusting to the limitations and learning to accept the disease
Worrying about something that might never happen seems senseless
Fighting MS isn’t worth the energy
Embrace it because it is a part of the body we dwell within
And be the best despite it

The Journey of MS with Anxiety

Anxiety is yet another arduous symptom to live with
It has different levels which takes some time to figure out
The lowest level can be dealt with by getting distracted
The middle level is a combinations of being able to get partially distracted
but nearing non-functioning
The highest level is not being able to function
The brain shuts down and it feels like constant terror
Medication is the only chance of getting free from this horror
There are other options like biofeedback therapy but not attempted

@sandy8043 thankyou for your thoughts. I will do my best to keep the positivity going. Thanks for the reminder.

@lisalucier
Family and friends think I have changed my personality. I do things that I would never do. For example left my family, had a meaningless affair. I have no emotion.

@donnavanpelt Excellent! MS is one of the rare diseases that people don’t “get” until they get it. If they lived one day or perhaps one hour in your skin, they would be horrified to say the least. Then perhaps they would “get” it, what this disease is really like. Not only that, it is different for everyone. It is an enigma.
Courage.