Don't Ignore The Signs...

 Written August 30,2019

Have you ever been in one of those moods where you do not know what exactly is wrong, but you feel irritated at everyone and everything?

I can definitely raise my hand high and say that I deal with this a lot more than I did before I was diagnosed with MS. Did you know that it is pretty common to have mood issues for individuals who have some type of neurological autoimmune disease? It all makes sense, right? You alter a few bits and pieces of the brain you are going to act a little different.

I went to a class called Mood Changes in Multiple Sclerosis and learned that many of the moods that I experience are very common. When I was first diagnosed, I began to notice a change in my thoughts and moods. I always felt short tempered and a little irritable when I would talk to others. My patience was very thin. I had gone through several doctors who could not figure out my leg issues and when things were finally clear it took a while for me to accept that things were going to be different. The class brought to my attention that the brain has a funny way of controlling the body and thoughts. It is our power source. I usually know my body and when things are different, I make sure to address the problem. The one thing I did not know or think about is how my actions were affecting those around me. I had the chance to bring my mother with me to the Mood Changes in MS class and she spoke about how my reactions to small conversations were pretty snappy. I even hurt people when I stepped off social media, phone calls, family gathering etc. for a while to cope with my emotions. I needed the time to regroup myself and rebuild my resilience. I am too stubborn to step to the side and let something control my life. Now when moments arise such as not wanting to socialize or get out of the house, I try to reassess what is going on and work towards a positive, motivating goal.

I also learned that my grief over my diagnosis does not happen only a short few months after everything has been determined. My emotions will have their highs and their lows each time my abilities change over the course of my MS journey. This thought runs through my mind frequently, but I am positive that I can overcome any obstacle that comes my way. Learn to stay positive, forgive yourself and love yourself are some of the smallest yet hardest things to do but it can make a major impact on your life.

I have begun to add to my daily routine: mediate and practice yoga. These have been a major help in calming the mind and body to ground myself. It helps me focus more and even develop a better relationship with myself. Plus, it is fun to see what kind of funky yoga pose I can accomplish next.

If you think that you have any signs of depression, high anxiety, bipolar disorder or thoughts of suicide please let your doctor know. If you need someone to talk to feel free to connect with me. There are so may resources available that I would love to share with you.

Here are a few good resources to read if you would like to learn more...

www.nationalMSsociety.org/emotionalhealth

www.nationalMSsociety.org/depression