Coping up with Multiple Sclerosis

Physical Disabilities

In India there are 40,000 - 50,000 people estimated to be affected by the disease. It frequently attacks young people usually in the age group of 20-40 years and is more common among females than males.

Multiple Sclerosis is a problem where symptoms develop unpredictably. Its cause is unknown and the ailment neither has a method of prevention nor any cure. So as soon a person is diagnosed with the problem he can fall into despair. Positive attitude, adaptability, and matter-of-fact approach to the condition can instil hope in the person. Instead of looking down, one needs to look up. The first positive thing one can notice is that MS has no significant effect on life expectancy. Secondly no two patients are alike or follow the same course. Another encouraging aspect is that nine out of ten have long intervals with few or no symptoms. One in three have few or no symptoms years after onset and nine out of ten have none to mild memory or learning impairment. One needs to "Accept the diagnosis but don’t accept the verdict that comes with it." The simplest thing one can do is to mimic a child’s attitude with the exception that one must not take the course of treatment complacently.

It is obvious that one might be fearful to find that one would be losing control over life. But we can at least have a new sense of control.

Do the following:

• Focus on problem solving
• Know everything you can about your illness and rehabilitation.

Recognize and avoid all such thoughts as, "I am letting down my family," "I caused my illness," "I am a burden to everyone," or "I am no good for anything, anymore." Thoughts of guilt and shame increase the pain, can affect the immune system and can cause depression.

Here are some positive behaviors that can be found helpful in the psychological management of MS and other life time illnesses:

Educate your family about your illness. Family support and family education and understanding of your illness are greatly helpful.

Stay actively involved with your family life. Christopher Reeve, the actor of Superman fame, now paralyzed from the neck down, sits in his chair with the life sustaining equipment and intently watches his children play basket-ball.

Find your faith in the higher power. It is very helpful.

Participate in community activities. Volunteer for a community project.

Innovate, improvise, and problem solve as to how you can get around your problem and increase your ability to function.

Try going as far as coming up with a favorite memory or mental picture to call upon in your dark hours.

You are not alone in your negative emotions. It was okay not to be brave all of the time, to cry when it hurts, to scream as it might help ease some stress.

Depression is highly treatable if you do not keep inflicting new emotional pain on yourself. People with chronic illnesses inflict emotional pain on themselves by comparing their present with the past-- for example, how much they could do then and how little they can do now. They compare themselves with others, saying, for example Guilt and shame about your illness and lack of acceptance of it can inflict more emotional pain.

Do not focus on what you can’t do. Focus on what you can do today.

People with MS do suffer. But the objective is to find a way in life to deal with the suffering with dignity .Learn from it. Don’t fear it. The goal is to not lose oneself in the process.