What I hadnt braced myself for was the impact an official diagnosis would have on my mental health.
Strangely, I found my pre-diagnosis life easier to deal with, physical frustrations and all.
Yes, I was constantly dropping utensils, pens, my phone, and my keys.
One woman shares her 5 mental health tips for living with multiple sclerosis.
I do my own stunts!
The truth I wasnt prepared to tell was that I had lost feeling in my feet.
For two years, I was told everything I was experiencing was in line with theearly signs of MS.
Being told that I actuallyhaveMS felt very different.
Although the words were delivered softly and with compassion by my neurologist, they still sent me reeling.
The stress of receiving my diagnosis took over my mental and physical health.
In the two weeks after my diagnosis, my mind went to terrible places.
I stressed about being able to perform at work.
I obsessed over how my symptoms would impact my ability to play with my kids.
I worried about how much all of this would worry my mom.
In that moment, proactive care of my mental health became a non-negotiable part of my care plan.
But how do you find peace of mind when you know your brain has lesions in it?
How do you find comfort in a body that you cant count on every day?
Three years post-diagnosis, the answer, at least for me, is that peace and comfort arent found.
With the right tools, they are built.
I hope the following tips inspire you to build your own mental health toolkit.
It might look different than mine or your best friends or your sisters.
These are just a jumping-off point.
My hope tool:A copy ofThe Wahls Protocol, written byTerry Wahls, MD.
There are other days when diving into the science isnt going to work though.
A common MS symptom is cog-fog, a cognitive clouding that makes it difficult to think clearly.
On these days I put away the clinical stuff and instead remind myself ofThe Survivor Treestory.
It can now be seen thriving at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum.
Focusing on this story reminds me to stay strong on hard days.
A hobby tool that helps me feel like me.
My hobby tool:Getting to work on my yoga mat.
I was lucky enough to stumble upon a yoga class at my local gym in my late teens.
Since then it has been a mental and physical lifeline.
Granted there are some days when my body tells me a flat-out No toexercise.
When this happens, I borrow my husbands go-to mental health tool: a bird feeder.
He put it up several years ago and weve been oohing and aahing over our visitors ever since.
Is being able to identify eleven backyard bird species the coolest party trick youve ever heard of?
That depends on what kind of parties you go to.
Is it a sign youre into one of the most inexplicably soothing hobbies around?
A humor tool that forces me to not take things too seriously.
My humor tool:Hang time with my kids.
Oh, the insight!
The better-than-the-real-thing pronunciation of words.
The tiny fingers and big thoughts.
Watching a small humans personality hatch in all its unfiltered glory is an absolute delight.
MS or not, taking a time-out to giggle is just good for the soul.
A humility tool that pulls me out of my MS bubble.
My humility tool: Engaging in ageocaching app.
Why is geocaching an effective humility tool?
For example, a mangled tennis ball on the floor is evidence of a dogs unconditional love.
A takeout container in the fridge is a reminder of dinner with a friend.
Its a simple way to reframe everyday items and change my outlook for the better.
A here-and-now tool that grounds me in the moment.
My here and now too:A cup of hot tea and my (sometimes) five senses.
It sounds like listening close enough to hear the contents of a teabag shift around as those leaves unfurl.
It feels like warm porcelain in my hands and steam on my face.
It smells and tastes like chai or passionfruit or peppermint.
My anxiety intensifies when my thoughts run off to a future that hasnt happened yet.
Thisgrounding techniquehelps me practice staying in direct contact with my life as it is actually happening.
At times MS has affected my vision and sense of touch.
When those senses are less perceptive, I focus on the other three.
This is a simple practice that I can commit to daily.
When Im mentally well, I feel physically well and vice versa.
Its the ultimate two-for-one deal.
What might help you connect with the world outside of yourMS diagnosis?
