MS
Family and relationships
Thanks to my partner, relatives, friends, and colleagues, it’s easier for me to live this life with MS.
Here, we provide you with tools and information to help with problems you might face with your MS and relationships, marriage, sex, and more.
And if you can’t find everything you need, you may also find support groups helpful, to talk to those going through the same things as you.
Every person is unique, and no two people will experience MS in the same way. How MS affects you, and those around you, will depend on not just your symptoms but also your individual circumstances, your personality, and your outlook.
MS can interfere with your emotions and intimacy and can affect the workings of family life, but there are ways to help overcome these issues:
For more information on how to overcome the effects MS has on family life, see the links from MS patient organisations below:
All relationships take work, and when you add MS into the mix, it can bring some entirely unique complications. But living with MS shouldn’t stop you from having meaningful relationships.
Having MS in your life can upset the dynamics of a relationship, so it’s important to seek the right advice and support if you need it. Maintaining a constant dialogue with those close to you means that you can manage your MS, together. We provide some tips on how to do this, below:
I can say that MS has welded us even closer together and will not separate us. There are 3 of us in our marriage: my husband, me, and MS.
The best support for me has been my family and friends. My partner is the most supportive person in my life and has helped me through some of my darkest times. He drives me to my appointments and MRIs. He is the shoulder I cry on, and the ear that never tires of listening to me.
In short, when managing MS in a relationship, it’s important to talk to those close to you to help them understand what you’re going through.
Useful links for more support
For more support on family and MS, visit the National MS Society website, where there’s also useful advice on how to talk to children about MS.
If you feel your friends and family need more advice, you can also find support for them from the MS Society here.
Helpful information on what the effects of MS could mean to your relationships and family.
You’re not facing this alone. Find real experiences from people living with MS, and information on dealing with how MS can affect your mental health here.
Sometimes, being listened to is the best form of support. We can help you find it.