Mental Health

MS can affect your emotions. Let’s give MS something to feel bad about.

Emotional or mental well-being is important to everyone. We all have our ups and downs, and it’s not unusual to experience mental health challenges such as stress, anxiety, and depression when you’re living with MS. Remember that these feelings are totally normal and you’re not alone. Medication, counselling, and self-help techniques can all make coping with MS easier. Here, we put our minds together to find ways to help you take control of your mental health, stay positive, and live life your way.

It’s not surprising that around 60% of people living with MS will experience problems with their mental health. The link between MS and mental well-being is complex and different for everyone. 

It’s not clear whether changes in mood, emotions, or behaviour are caused directly by the effects of MS on the brain itself or as an indirect effect of living with MS.  

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I’ve struggled with both anxiety and bouts of depression since being diagnosed with MS. The uncertainty about the disease and how it might progress in the future has left me feeling helpless at times. I’ve always been a bit of a worry wart, so being diagnosed with something with so many unknowns has been stressful to say the least.

Kandis

Living with MS since 2012

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In addition to MS, I’ve been diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder. The severity and impact of these mood disorders have varied throughout the last 15 years since my MS diagnosis, but the uncertainty of MS progression, fear of changes in functioning and the grief of having to change or let go of plans I had for my life have certainly impacted my mood. I needed help from mental health professionals to learn how to accept the uncertainty, fear and grief and find ways to cope and move forward in my life with MS.

Rebecca

Living with MS since 2006

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Regardless of what’s making you feel anxious, stressed, or down, there are ways to help you deal with these feelings and emotions – your doctor can prescribe medications to help, and there are other approaches such as psychological therapies and counselling, which should be considered. Take the first step by discussing how you are feeling with your healthcare team, to find a solution that works for you.

Katie used to struggle with her mental health. She experiences mood swings and panic attacks, and always felt worried, which was making her deeply unhappy. When it became a huge problem and affected all aspects of her life, she knew she had to take steps to manage it.

She opened up to her doctor.

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Speaking with my doctor was the most important step towards gaining back control of my emotional well-being.

Katie

Living with MS since 2016

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Talking about how she was feeling with someone she trusted empowered Katie to take back control. Now, she considers her emotional well-being to be as important as any other aspect of her MS. She now regularly keeps her doctor up-to-date on how she is feeling and lets them know about any changes in her mood.

She connected with friends and family and the wider MS community.

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I could share my thoughts and feelings with people who understood. They were able to offer up their experience and expertise.

Katie

Living with MS since 2016

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Katie was able to find some relief by communicating with like-minded people online and in local MS support groups.

She also found comfort in her friends and family. Although it can be difficult talking about your diagnosis or symptoms with people close to you, they are an important source of support when you need it most. Head to our relationships page and read more about having positive conversations with friends and family.

Katie’s top tips for putting your mental health and well-being before MS

Katie’s top tips for putting your mental health and well-being before MS 

  1. Breathe deeply to help reduce stress and avoid panic
  2. Use guided meditation apps to help de-stress
  3. Get enough rest
  4. Join online community groups. Share your experiences
  5. Surround yourself with positive people
  6. Speak to your doctor, family, and friends about how you are feeling
  7. Treat yourself to a special activity just for you – spend time exploring the outdoors, see a movie, read a book, or just go for coffee
  8. Don’t be afraid to speak to your doctor and get medication to help
MS can bring its own unique challenges, but you’re not alone. There is help available, and there are different strategies to help you deal with whatever challenges you are facing. These can include medications, psychological therapies, and various forms of counselling.

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I have managed my anxiety and depression through weekly one-on-one therapy sessions. I attend hospital-run programs on talking therapy sessions and mindfulness, I meditate, I write in a journal, and I take anti-depressant medication. If you are experiencing anxiety and depression, ask your doctor what programs you may be able to access for free through the hospital you are connected to.

Rebecca

Living with MS since 2006

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Although my depression can make me want to close myself off from the world, I’ve noticed I tend to feel better when I push myself outside of my comfort zone. Saying ‘yes’ is the first step. ‘Yes, I’ll go with you to the park.’ ‘Yes, I’ll go with you for dinner and a movie.’ ‘Yes, I’d love to come over for a glass of wine!'

Kandis

Living with MS since 2012

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Talking to my friends about the invisible symptoms of MS, such as anxiety and depression, has been the biggest help to me. I hate when people worry about me. However, as soon as I opened up about some of my daily struggles that may not have been obvious to them, everything changed. My friends are now able to provide support and help push me to push myself.

Kandis

Living with MS since 2012

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Read on to find out more and speak to your healthcare team to find the right techniques for you.
Medication may be prescribed by your doctor in order to help ease feelings of depression and anxiety. This might include anti-anxiety and anti-depressant medications. Medication can also be offered together with other techniques, such as counselling.
Psychological therapies focus on changing the way you think to help you overcome your negative feelings and reactions to certain situations. For example, they can help you to identify negative thoughts when you start to experience them and change the way you react, teaching you how to respond in a constructive rather than negative way. These methods have been shown to help people with MS cope with depression, anxiety, and feelings of fatigue.
Counselling or talking therapies involve speaking in confidence to a trained professional, either face to face, over the phone, or online, to help you address the emotional issues you’re facing living with MS. The format of these sessions depends on the counsellor and usually involves a series of sessions.

Want to read more about MS and mental health?

Find articles below featuring information on how MS can affect mental health, and what we can do to help stop it.


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