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@Robmonk 

Last reply

Robmonk

Anxiety and MS

Hi - I've recently found this resource - and what a great platform it is! I just wanted to put a bit about my recent experiences with anxiety and depression. How and if it related to MS I'm not quite sure... Anyway, I recently took a freelance job on-site at an advertising agency. It didn't last very long; I left after only five days feeling mentally overcome with negativity. I couldn't concentrate or do the work very well and found the whole project overwhelming. I have bills to pay of course, and currently I feel like I've let down everyone and myself. This coupled with a distinct low-motivation is causing a lot of worry. I recently completed a freelance writing project on-site so I have proved to myself that I am capable of working in an office. Maybe it was the nature of this particular place, I'm not sure. In any case, the guilt about being a bit of a loser is difficult to let go of (though I know I have to do, and move on!) Since my diagnosis in late 2012, I've mostly worked as a writer freelancing from home/remotely. I have had problems with depression and anxiety in the past but never has stress built up quite as rapidly as this. I'm not currently on any medication (I'm awaiting approval for a course of Tecfidera, the DMD I was on last year in Germany, before returning to the UK). Ok, vent over. Just wondering if anyone had any job advice and how to stay calm in the face of adversity... Many thanks, Rob
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@Stumbler
@Stumbler
 

Hi @robmonk and welcome, Anxiety and depression do not live easily with MS, but unfortunately, it goes with the territory. Now, the stress is best avoided, which would seem difficult with your circumstances. But, stress just seems to fuel the MS. Anyway, I'd be strongly tempted to contact your MS Nurse to discuss these negative emotions. They may have some useful suggestions for you, which may, or may not, include a short course of medication to take the edge off things for you. Always look at medications, e.g. anti-depressants, not as a personal failure, but just a bit of help to get you over this phase. And we all need help from time to time.

@naomih
@naomih
 

Hi Rob. I hate my job but love my colleagues, I'm late every day as it is so hard to drag myself out of bed, mostly I succeed sometimes I don't, I'm on antidepressants for the pain and secretly think they might also be helping to keep the blues at bay. I find the structure of an office helps, as for staying calm, again I think all the drugs I'm dropping (also on tecfidera) have mellowed me a bit!! Good luck and stumbler has a very good point about talking to the ms nurse as although we think we must be abnormal for these feelings, they must come across it all the time, we are not as unique in our nuttiness as we think...(or so I hope!!!)