Picture
                                   WELL BEING
It's become such a catch phrase hasn't it?  But the reality is, any reference to this

topic is important to help maintain optimal health and wellness.

In this section a few Well Being categories are highlighted as it pertains to

MSer's:

Diet & Nutrition, Exercise, Physical & Occupational Therapy, Intimacy.



***********************************************************************************************
​MS HAS HIJACKED MY OLD SELF. Restoring
what's been lost means reversing MS symptoms and recovering function.  By focusing on an integrated approach to regeneration and remyelination, as well as better understanding how wellness and lifestyle choices affect symptoms. The RESTORE pathway includes two major objectives: regeneration and restoration of activity.

https://www.nationalmssociety.org/pathways-to-a-cure/explore-pathways/restore

What about my PAIN?


A Letter to the Normal’s from a Person With Severe Chronic Pain"

Having chronic pain means many things change, and a lot of them are invisible. Unlike having cancer or being hurt 

in an accident, most people do not understand even a little about chronic pain and its effects, and of those that 

think they know, many are actually misinformed. 

In the spirit of informing those who wish to understand: These are the things that I would like you to understand 

about me before you judge me.


Please understand that being sick doesn't mean I'm not still a human being. I have to spend most of my day in 

considerable pain and exhaustion, and if you visit the blog, sometimes I probably don't seem like much fun to be 

with, but I'm still me, stuck inside this body. I still worry about work, my family, my friends, and most of the time, 


I'd still like to hear you talk about yours, too.


Please understand the difference between "happy" and "healthy". When you've got the flu, you probably feel 

miserable with it, but I've been sick for years. I can't be miserable all the time. In fact, I work hard at not being 

miserable. So, if you're talking to me and I sound happy, it means I'm happy. that's all. It doesn't mean that I'm not 

in a lot of pain, or extremely tired, or that I'm getting better, or any of those things. Please don't say, "Oh, you're 

sounding better!" or "But you look so healthy!" I am merely coping. I am sounding happy and trying to look 

normal. If you want to comment on that, you're welcome.


Please understand that being able to stand up for ten minutes doesn't necessarily mean that I can stand up for 

twenty minutes, or an hour. Just because I managed to stand up for thirty minutes yesterday doesn't mean that I 

can do the same today. With a lot of diseases you're either paralyzed, or you can move. With this one, it gets more 

confusing everyday. It can be like a yo-yo. I never know from day to day, how I am going to feel when I wake up. 


In most cases, I never know from minute to minute. That is one of the hardest and most frustrating components of 

chronic pain. Please repeat the above paragraph substituting, "sitting", "walking", "thinking", "concentrating", "


being sociable" and so on, it applies to everything. That's what chronic pain does to you.



Please understand that chronic pain is variable. It's quite possible (for many, it's common) that one day I am able 

to walk to the park and back, while the next day I'll have trouble getting to the next room. Please don't attack me 

when I'm ill by saying, "But you did it before!" or "Oh, come on, I know you can do this!" If you want me to do 

something, then ask if I can. In a similar vein, I may need to cancel a previous commitment at the last minute. If 

this happens, please do not take it personally. If you are able, please try to always remember how very lucky you

are, to be physically able to do all of the things that you can do.



Please understand that "getting out and doing things" does not make me feel better, and can often make me

seriously worse. You don't know what I go through or how I suffer in my own private time. Telling me that I 

need to exercise, or do some things to "get my mind off of it", may frustrate me to tears, and is not correct. If I was 

capable of doing some things any or all of the time, don't you know that I would? I am working with my doctors and 

I am doing what I am supposed to do. Another statement that hurts is, "You just need to push yourself more, try 

harder". Obviously, chronic pain can deal with the whole body, or be localized to specific areas. Sometimes 

participating in a single activity for a short or a long period of time can cause more damage and physical pain than 

you could ever imagine. Not to mention the recovery time, which can be intense. You can't always read it on my 

face or in my body language. Also, chronic pain may cause secondary depression (wouldn't you get depressed and 

down if you were hurting constantly for months or years?), but it is not created by depression.


Please understand that if I say I have to sit down, lie down, stay in bed, or take these pills now, that probably 

means that I do have to do it right now, it can't be put off or forgotten just because I'm somewhere, or I'm right in 

the middle of doing something. Chronic pain does not forgive, nor does it wait for anyone.

If you want to suggest a cure to me, please don't. It's not because I don't appreciate the thought, and it's not 

because I don't want to get well. Lord knows that isn't true. In all likelihood, if you've heard of it or tried it, so have 

I. In some cases, I have been made sicker, not better. This can involve side effects or allergic reactions, as is the 

case with herbal remedies. It also includes failure, which in and of itself can make me feel even lower. If there were 

something that cured, or even helped people with my form of chronic pain, then we'd know about it. There is 

worldwide networking (both on and off the Internet) between people with chronic pain. If something worked, we 

would KNOW. It's definitely not for lack of trying. If, after reading this, you still feel the need to suggest a cure, 

then so be it. I may take what you said and discuss it with my doctor.


If I seem touchy, it's probably because I am. It's not how I try to be. As a matter of fact, I try very hard to be 

normal. I hope you will try to understand. I have been, and am still, going through a lot. Chronic pain is hard for 

you to understand unless you have had it. It wreaks havoc on the body and the mind. It is exhausting and 

exasperating. Almost all the time, I know that I am doing my best to cope with this, and live my life to the best of 

my ability. I ask you to bear with me, and accept me as I am. I know that you cannot literally understand my 

situation unless you have been in my shoes, but as much as is possible, I am asking you to try to be understanding 

in general.


In many ways I depend on you, people who are not sick. I need you to visit me when I am too sick to go out. 

Sometimes I need you help me with the shopping, the cooking or the cleaning. I may need you to take me to the

doctor, or to the store. You are my link to the "normalcy" of life. You can help me to keep in touch with the parts of 

life that I miss and fully intend to undertake again, just as soon as I am able.


I know that I asked a lot from you, and I do thank you for listening. It really does mean a lot.






MS and Depression: Tips for Mental Fitness
By R. Morgan Griffin
WebMD Feature




When you have MS, your emotions are in play.  While having MS raises your chances of having depression, knowing that fact -- and being aware -- can help you try to prevent it and get treatment. Protect yourself with healthy habits.


Get moving. When it comes to MS treatment, exercise is a two-for-one. Being active improves MS symptoms -- like fatigue and bladder problems -- and improves your mood, says Rosalind Kalb, PhD, vice president of clinical care at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. "It's essential," she says.

Many people with MS say they feel better after walking, swimming, and biking. Before working out, talk to your doctor about what kind of exercise is good for you.


Relax. Kicking back in front of the TV likely isn’t enough. Try to relax consciously -- set aside time for it.

"I think it’s especially hard for people, especially women, to be in the moment," says Cindy Richman, senior director at the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America. "Yoga, meditation, mindfulness, and other approaches can help with that." Taking breaks works too, she says. “Read a few lines of a poem. Write in a journal. Go smell the flowers in your garden."


Get backup. You still have all the responsibilities you had before you got MS, but now you may not have the energy to tackle them all. That leads to stress.

Talk to your family and friends. Ask for help -- whether it's grocery shopping, picking up the kids after school, or making dinner. Talk to the people in your life before you're already feeling overwhelmed.

Taking care of yourself -- and preserving your resources -- isn't selfish. Lowering stress is good for your mental health, and that's good for your family.  


Tackle issues one at a time. It's easy to get overwhelmed, especially when you’re having a challenging day. Stay in control by focusing on specific issues, and come up with solutions one at a time.  

What would make your mornings easier? What household tasks are the most and the least important? Prioritize. "One success builds your confidence, and that leads you to the next," Kalb says.


Get a coach. Therapists -- like psychologists, social workers, and counselors -- aren't just for people who are in the middle of a mental health crisis. They can also be life coaches, Kalb says. "Therapy is a way to help you sort out your priorities, to find solutions to what's challenging you at home or at work."

You might see a therapist for a while, take a break, and then come back if a new issue crops up, Kalb says.  


Signs of Multiple Sclerosis Relapse


Treating Depression                              

If you think you might be depressed, don't rely on lifestyle changes alone.


Find the cause.  Your doctor can help you find out what triggered your depression. The causes can vary.  


MS and Depression: Tips for Mental Fitness


Treating Depression continued...

It’s possible your depression has nothing to do with MS.

Having a chronic condition like MS can create stress, and that may bring on bouts of depression. But research has found people with severe MS symptoms are not necessarily more likely to be depressed than people with mild symptoms.

Sometimes medication can play a role.  The steroids and other medications used to treat MS may trigger or worsen depression.

The MS itself can also affect certain areas of the brain that relate to mood. 

Once you understand what led to your depression, you can get the right treatment.


Build a team. To treat depression, you'll do best with a team of people supporting you.  

A psychiatrist can determine if medication would help you. Don’t expect an immediate change. Finding the right drug and dose for you can take some time.

Don’t stop therapy. While drugs can relieve symptoms, Kalb says, therapy can help with specific problems that might be contributing to your depression. 

Depression is not something you need to hide. Identify friends and family that you feel comfortable talking with about how you’re feeling.  Their support can really help. Your MS specialist can also be your ally.

Whatever you do, Kalb says, don't accept that depression will be a constant part of your life.

"They say, 'Well of course you're depressed, you have MS.' That's not true at all. Depression is never normal for anyone, including people with MS."

Get help. Don't settle. "It's not enough for treatment to make you feel a little bit better," Kalb says. "Treat your depression until it's gone."



Further Reading:

Top Picks