Stress is a part of everyone’s life, but people with MS have extra sources
of stress. Dealing with symptoms, making decisions about treatment, and modifying
your activities to adjust to MS can all add to the stress in your life. A certain
level of stress is good – it keeps you motivated and alert. But too much stress
can have negative effects on your health.
We still don’t understand the exact relationship between stress and MS. Many
people with MS notice that their symptoms get worse during stressful times.
So far, researchers have not reached a final conclusion about whether stress
actually does make MS worse. Both MS and stress can affect your emotions. Stress
has a different impact on each person with MS because the symptoms and severity
of MS vary widely from person to person. Each person also has their own way
of reacting to stress. Regardless, everyone with MS can benefit from reducing
the stress in their lives. This won’t cure MS, but it will improve your overall
health and free up more of your energy to cope with the condition.
You can’t avoid stress altogether. Instead, the key is to deal with stress
effectively. Learn to recognize your own personal “stress signs”, identify the
sources of stress in your life, and develop coping strategies. Your healthcare
professional, friends and family can all help you to deal with stress.
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2026. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/MS-Managing-Stress