@MS and anxiety on Shift.ms

MS and anxiety

Hi guys! Glad to e-meet you all :) So, it is my first post here and i would like to share some info and try and see if someone has an advice. My MS is pretty “mild” in terms of physical manifestation (had two minor relapses in almost 8 years that left no long term damage) but psychological side of it is getting worse - i have major anxiety issues followed by panic attacks very often and while in some cases i can handle it easy, sometimes it is a living hell. Is anyone else experiencing it (tbh i feel like it is getting worse as the years goes by) and what are your coping methods? Are you on some kind of therapy for it? Any advice would be much appreciated :)

Hi! Im Kelly. I’ve had bad anxiety since I was a kid so I was used to dealing with panic attacks but my MS made my anxiety and depression so much worse. This is somewhat embarrassing to admit (although I stand by getting help for mental health) but a year ago I admitted myself to a mental health facility so that I could be monitored physically and mentally for five days. At the end of that I had a dedicated psychiatrist that started working with me on getting on all the right meds having evaluated my anxious episode. I know it sucks to be on even more medication on top of any MS drugs but I highly suggest using some form of medication to ease anxiety. We have so much to deal with already being young in our society, making ends meet, and all the chaos that’s happening in the world on top of having MS that I think some help in the form of medication makes sense. Other than that I do a lot of meditation, go to the gym every day and do some rigorous cardio (which would probably be good for you if you don’t have many physical symptoms) and I make sure I’m sleeping enough. Sorry this is so long but I hope it’s a little helpful.