Dealing With Multiple Sclerosis One Day At A ... - Health and Fitness

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, affecting the ability of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord to communicate with each other. As demyelination occurs, axons cannot effectively conduct signals from the brain. A person with MS can have changes in sensation, muscle weakness, difficulties in coordination and balance, problems in speech, or acute and chronic pain. There is no cure for MS so it is important to learn how to deal with the emotional and physical side effects one day at a time. If you or a loved one has MS, read the following ways to deal with MS.

First, when you have MS, you can only deal with what is happening presently. Dealing effectively and productively with the problems or obstacles in the present prevents a building up of stress later on. Remain positive and don?t think things will continue to get worse.

Secondly, try to be with other people as much as possible. You don?t want to go through this alone. If you can?t leave your house, call a friend or family member to visit you so you don?t feel lonely and isolated. Because multiple sclerosis presents itself sometimes in very harsh and horrible ways while other times it is manageable, it is good to have people you can trust that will always be there for you when things get tough.

Thirdly, it is very important to stay positive. Write down your positive thoughts so that when you are feeling unhappy or miserable you can look back on them and remind yourself that you will soon feel better and that there is a reason to be happy. Your mind is very powerful and eventually what you think will become what you do.

Fourthly, try to be resourceful. When a problem or obstacle comes up, try to be creative and imaginative about its solution. Think about the easiest possible way to deal with something or to make it altogether disappear.

Fifthly, keep busy by finding a hobby. Often symptoms and dealing with the constant threat of your disease can be overwhelming. It is good to have something else to think about to escape sometimes. Take up baking or arts and crafts. You can go fishing or take up yoga. Try wine-tasting or go shopping with friends. Take a small trip to the beach or even to the park to have a picnic.

Sixthly, try not to think about yourself and your disease all the time. Try to get out of your mind and think about the good things in your life. Think about the people you love and all the fun times you have had in the past. Reconnect with old friends and think about fun and adventurous times you have had in your life.

Seventhly, stay in contact with your doctor. Make regular phone calls to your physician to find out about new symptom management tactics or new medications. Scientists are always working hard to find new ways to manage MS and it is important to stay on top of the new literature.

Article source: http://ezinearticles.com/6477368

Source: http://medicaltips.biz/2012/03/20/dealing-with-multiple-sclerosis-one-day-at-a-time/

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