Emotional Changes


That word. Those words. Multiple Sclerosis. Diagnosis. I can’t understand what is happening, or why it’s happening. “But I’m so young. But it’s not fair”. I guess it’s too late for those now. “What will I do? Will I be able to walk next year?” That is what floods my mind, as I walk down the hall, from the office after I rose slowly from the chair.
 
Sitting in the hospital, getting steroids again, I can’t help but think about how annoyed I am. I had a life, I had things to do, I don’t have time for this. I guess it’s too late for that now.
 
I haven’t said very much lately, I guess I haven’t had very much to say. I haven’t seen very many people lately, I guess there aren’t very many people to see. I haven’t smiled that often recently, I guess I don’t have anything to smile about. I guess it’s too late for all of that now.

Emotional Changes

Not only does Multiple Sclerosis have an affect physically, it takes a toll emotionally as well. As soon as you’re diagnosed or the idea of being diagnosed is brought up in discussions with doctors, there are very real and powerful feelings that are usually brought to the surface. Also, throughout the course of the disease there are many emotional changes that can occur due to damage in the central nervous system.

New Emotions

Everyone will react to their diagnosis, or thought of diagnosis, differently. Some common feelings that individuals might feel upon diagnosis are shock, denial, confusion, anger, anxiety, or relief. Being in a state of shock is a common and understandable first reaction to being diagnosed with MS. It is also common for people to be in denial and to try to avoid the feelings associated with being diagnosed. It’s OK to have these feelings. It’s normal to have these feelings.
Confusion and anger seem to go hand-in-hand, they both come from a place of not knowing. Not knowing why this had to happen to you. Unfortunately, no one is really going to ever figure that out. Anxiety comes when you start thinking about what’s next, what’s in store for your future. And to feel relief when diagnosed? I know some that have. Often after years of experiencing symptoms and not being able to put a name to it, finally it has a name, and now with the name a course of treatment.

Different Emotions

But what about the emotional changes that happen after diagnosis? Once we have reconciled with ourselves that this is our ‘new normal’, what can happen then? Unfortunately, as it is with many symptoms, emotional changes are very common. These changes can include anxiety, mood swings, stress, depression and pseudo-bulbar affect.
  •      Anxiety: anxiety is a very common emotional symptom. Feelings of anxiety can stem from uncertainty with the future, to thinking about medical expenses, to thinking about how your other symptoms impact your current life.
  •      Mood swings: this is the most common emotional side effects that can happen with MS. Mood swings can present as moodiness, crankiness, anger or irritability. They can happen at anytime and can come out of nowhere.
  •      Stress: feeling stressed out is extremely common when having MS. Considering every day can bring a new challenge, having varying degrees of stress at certain times is quite common. Chronic stress can we can the immune system and increase your risk for other illnesses. Research has not been conclusive regarding the correlation between stress and relapses but stress certainly doesn’t help anything. Finding stress reduction techniques that help for you, that you can do daily, can be incredibly important in how you manage MS.
  •      Depression: major depression is also very common in people with MS. Surveys and research have showed that more than 50% of people with MS will struggle with major depression at one point in their life time. Since depression can put individuals at risk for doing harm to themselves, knowing the signs of major depression is important.
  •      Pseudo-bulbar affect: this is a rare type of emotional response but can still happen in individuals with MS. This occurs when individuals experience periods of uncontrollable crying or laughter, without a stimulus to elicit such a reaction. This reaction occurs due to damage in the pre-frontal cortex of the brain and is present for every 1 out of 10 people with MS.
The emotions that an individual is experiencing will dictate the treatment needed. Usually lifestyle modifications, therapy or medication are the most helpful interventions.
I have certainly struggled with my fair share of stressors and negative feelings stemming from MS. When I was first diagnosed I struggled considerably with anger. I was frustrated and mad that this happened to me. Anything that reminded me of having MS would put me in a pretty negative mood. It took me many years to come to terms with my diagnosis, and creating LissMS was one of the things that help me to shift my perspective on my disease.
Creating positive things from a negative one is a powerful way to shift our perspective and outlook. What is something that you can do that will shift your thought process about your diagnosis?

I’M ALISSA!

I help women who have also been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis make specific and personalized diet, lifestyle & subconscious changes so that they can begin to heal their body, reduce disease symptoms, and return to a life they love.hey there,

follow along on Instagram:

👉🏼Feeling stuck with your MS symptoms?
👉🏼Feeling like your body betrayed you and is working against you?
👉🏼Are you worried you’re stuck like this and will never get better?

I get it. At one point I did too.

Years ago I was experiencing “Aggressive MS” and I thought I’d never function the same.

I thought my days of moving how I wanted, or doing anything on a whim were over.

I couldn’t walk well, couldn’t feel my body correctly and I was SCARED.

But now?
I’m confident in the ways I’m helping myself.
I no longer have aggressive MS.
I can move how I want, when I want.

Because of the changes I’ve made over the years.

No, it’s not easy, but that’s where I come in!!

I’ve dedicated my life to helping those with MS realize that feeling better is possible and helping them get there.

My 2 courses and my membership are on sale this weekend for Black Friday,

want to start your own success story??

Comment SUCCESS below and I’ll send you the link!!

👉🏼Feeling stuck with your MS symptoms?
👉🏼Feeling like your body betrayed you and is working against you?
👉🏼Are you worried you’re stuck like this and will never get better?

I get it. At one point I did too.

Years ago I was experiencing “Aggressive MS” and I thought I’d never function the same.

I thought my days of moving how I wanted, or doing anything on a whim were over.

I couldn’t walk well, couldn’t feel my body correctly and I was SCARED.

But now?
I’m confident in the ways I’m helping myself.
I no longer have aggressive MS.
I can move how I want, when I want.

Because of the changes I’ve made over the years.

No, it’s not easy, but that’s where I come in!!

I’ve dedicated my life to helping those with MS realize that feeling better is possible and helping them get there.

My 2 courses and my membership are on sale this weekend for Black Friday,

want to start your own success story??

Comment SUCCESS below and I’ll send you the link!!
...

14 0
Grab your path to healing!!

These are the lowest prices for my courses like ever, and they won’t be back. (And they’ll prob be going up in the new year- planning some updates!!)

Comment HEALING below and I’ll send you a link, or check out my stories!!

Grab your path to healing!!

These are the lowest prices for my courses like ever, and they won’t be back. (And they’ll prob be going up in the new year- planning some updates!!)

Comment HEALING below and I’ll send you a link, or check out my stories!!
...

3 2
The first step to being successful with managing stress (& being successful with anything really) is:

Awareness of where you currently are.

You can’t change or manage what you’re not aware of.

You can only know yourself as deep as you’re awareness of yourself goes.

Try this:
Right now as you read this, pause for a sec.
Take a deep breath, and ask yourself:

Where were my thoughts?
Where is my breathing?
What am I saying to myself?

Get really honest here too (warning- it might be uncomfy)

What did you discover while checking in? Let me know in the comments!

-
-
If we haven’t met yet, Hi! 👋🏼👋🏼 I’m Alissa. I’m a Holistic Practitioner & Therapist specializing in MS. 
I use all the tools I’ve comprised over my 10+ year career (and 14+ years with MS) to help my clients with MS decrease their symptoms, improve their overall health and get back to living life on their terms, not MS’ terms.
Interested to hear how that might look for you? Comment 🧡 below or DM me and we’ll chat!

The first step to being successful with managing stress (& being successful with anything really) is:

Awareness of where you currently are.

You can’t change or manage what you’re not aware of.

You can only know yourself as deep as you’re awareness of yourself goes.

Try this:
Right now as you read this, pause for a sec.
Take a deep breath, and ask yourself:

Where were my thoughts?
Where is my breathing?
What am I saying to myself?

Get really honest here too (warning- it might be uncomfy)

What did you discover while checking in? Let me know in the comments!

-
-
If we haven’t met yet, Hi! 👋🏼👋🏼 I’m Alissa. I’m a Holistic Practitioner & Therapist specializing in MS.
I use all the tools I’ve comprised over my 10+ year career (and 14+ years with MS) to help my clients with MS decrease their symptoms, improve their overall health and get back to living life on their terms, not MS’ terms.
Interested to hear how that might look for you? Comment 🧡 below or DM me and we’ll chat!
...

14 1
Progress is absolutely not linear.

But, it’s still progress nonetheless.

I see you if you’re in a “dip” or feel like you’re going “backwards”

You’re really not, you’re right where you should be.

Keep going!!
🧡❤️🧡

Progress is absolutely not linear.

But, it’s still progress nonetheless.

I see you if you’re in a “dip” or feel like you’re going “backwards”

You’re really not, you’re right where you should be.

Keep going!!
🧡❤️🧡
...

21 1
Lol, all this got me was an MS diagnosis. 

This was me basically my whole life up until a few years ago.

My clients have all talked about situations like this too.

It’s no wonder why a lot of us have an autoimmune disease now. 

Please, speak your truth. Your body will thank you.

If we haven’t met yet, Hi! 👋🏼👋🏼 I’m Alissa.
I’m a Holistic Practitioner & Therapist specializing in MS.

I use all the tools I’ve comprised over my 10+ year career (and 14+ years with MS) to help my clients with MS decrease their symptoms, improve their overall health and get back to living life on their terms, not MS’ terms.

Interested to hear how that might look for you? Comment 🧡 below or DM me and we’ll chat!

Lol, all this got me was an MS diagnosis.

This was me basically my whole life up until a few years ago.

My clients have all talked about situations like this too.

It’s no wonder why a lot of us have an autoimmune disease now.

Please, speak your truth. Your body will thank you.

If we haven’t met yet, Hi! 👋🏼👋🏼 I’m Alissa.
I’m a Holistic Practitioner & Therapist specializing in MS.

I use all the tools I’ve comprised over my 10+ year career (and 14+ years with MS) to help my clients with MS decrease their symptoms, improve their overall health and get back to living life on their terms, not MS’ terms.

Interested to hear how that might look for you? Comment 🧡 below or DM me and we’ll chat!
...

90 4
This has been a TOUGH week friends.

Don’t lose yourself.

What else would you add to this list?
What helps you when life is super hard?

❤️❤️

This has been a TOUGH week friends.

Don’t lose yourself.

What else would you add to this list?
What helps you when life is super hard?

❤️❤️
...

20 2
I’ve been actively working on my nervous system for the past year or two.

That hasn’t meant that all my anxiety or depression magically vanished.

It just means that when I do find myself feeling like an anxious mess or a depressed puddle, I know how to attend to and care for myself.

Not in the goal of “fixing” per se, more honoring and accepting.

This is one of the ways I help my clients improve their MS symptoms, but attending to their nervous systems and improving their stress response and resilience.

I have so many ways to work with me.. from 1:1 support to my free community.. comment below “interested” and we’ll chat about what would be right for you!

I’ve been actively working on my nervous system for the past year or two.

That hasn’t meant that all my anxiety or depression magically vanished.

It just means that when I do find myself feeling like an anxious mess or a depressed puddle, I know how to attend to and care for myself.

Not in the goal of “fixing” per se, more honoring and accepting.

This is one of the ways I help my clients improve their MS symptoms, but attending to their nervous systems and improving their stress response and resilience.

I have so many ways to work with me.. from 1:1 support to my free community.. comment below “interested” and we’ll chat about what would be right for you!
...

18 2
This is exactly why I do what I do.

Because when I was suffering and going through it, I had no one. 

No one in my corner who fully understood.

Sure I had some people around me who cared.. but that’s different than understanding and being supportive.

I don’t want that for you.

I want you to feel confident,
in control of your life,
like you have someone in your corner who understands on a completely different level than those around you.

This is why I do what I do.

Because I don’t want you to feel alone.

PS- My second book is available for pre-order!!
This is a book that I would have loved to read early on in my journey. 
I teamed up with 6 other authors to detail how we moved through our diagnosis and came out the other side for the better.
(Also, 5 of the 7 authors also have MS!!)

If you pre order your copy through me before October 24th you’ll also get:
• Signed copy of Resilience Redefined
• The MS Handbook E-book
• Resilience Bookmark
• LissMS Sticker Pack

Comment “book” below and I’ll send you the link!!

This is exactly why I do what I do.

Because when I was suffering and going through it, I had no one.

No one in my corner who fully understood.

Sure I had some people around me who cared.. but that’s different than understanding and being supportive.

I don’t want that for you.

I want you to feel confident,
in control of your life,
like you have someone in your corner who understands on a completely different level than those around you.

This is why I do what I do.

Because I don’t want you to feel alone.

PS- My second book is available for pre-order!!
This is a book that I would have loved to read early on in my journey.
I teamed up with 6 other authors to detail how we moved through our diagnosis and came out the other side for the better.
(Also, 5 of the 7 authors also have MS!!)

If you pre order your copy through me before October 24th you’ll also get:
• Signed copy of Resilience Redefined
• The MS Handbook E-book
• Resilience Bookmark
• LissMS Sticker Pack

Comment “book” below and I’ll send you the link!!
...

11 0
When this is a new habit.. it’s HARD!!

We encounter so many messages that say DONT take time for you, prioritize others, you must.

So.. what stands in your way of prioritizing you?

What is your hesitation when you go take a minute for yourself?

What is the guilt you feel after you actually do?

I’m planning something in a few weeks to help you with just these things.. stay tuned…

When this is a new habit.. it’s HARD!!

We encounter so many messages that say DONT take time for you, prioritize others, you must.

So.. what stands in your way of prioritizing you?

What is your hesitation when you go take a minute for yourself?

What is the guilt you feel after you actually do?

I’m planning something in a few weeks to help you with just these things.. stay tuned…
...

53 0
I’ve found that most all of my clients (and my past self too) would say NOPE, at least at first.

There are so many reasons we don’t value our own needs as much as others, but this is something that def has to be addressed if we want to continue to make progress with improving our health.

You matter.
Remember that.
🧡❤️

I’ve found that most all of my clients (and my past self too) would say NOPE, at least at first.

There are so many reasons we don’t value our own needs as much as others, but this is something that def has to be addressed if we want to continue to make progress with improving our health.

You matter.
Remember that.
🧡❤️
...

17 2
This is what came through during my meditation this morning.

I’ve been feeling so BEHIND lately..
That I’m not doing enough..
That progress isn’t happening fast enough..

But that’s a lie.
I’m right where I should be.

I needed this message today… maybe you do too?

This is what came through during my meditation this morning.

I’ve been feeling so BEHIND lately..
That I’m not doing enough..
That progress isn’t happening fast enough..

But that’s a lie.
I’m right where I should be.

I needed this message today… maybe you do too?
...

15 4
This is how I slowly helped myself the most:
Making small changes to my life,
* Intentional awareness to my morning
* Noticing when I’m being mean to myself 
* Noticing when I’m reactive or in a state of fight or flight..

Some “small” ideas for you too:
* don’t grab your phone first thing in the morning, take some deep breaths, think about how you want your day to go
* drink an extra glass of water (bonus if it’s in the morning too)
* get up and move every hour
* say something nice to yourself when you catch yourself being mean
* step outside for a few minutes a few times a day

Small changes add up to big steps forward,
don’t get fooled by these not being “enough”,
they absolutely are. 

Wanna hear more about how Ive helped myself and my clients to lessen our MS symptoms so we feel better in our bodies?

I detail it in my chapter in Resilience Redefined.. comment “Book” and I’ll send you the link!!

This is how I slowly helped myself the most:
Making small changes to my life,
* Intentional awareness to my morning
* Noticing when I’m being mean to myself
* Noticing when I’m reactive or in a state of fight or flight..

Some “small” ideas for you too:
* don’t grab your phone first thing in the morning, take some deep breaths, think about how you want your day to go
* drink an extra glass of water (bonus if it’s in the morning too)
* get up and move every hour
* say something nice to yourself when you catch yourself being mean
* step outside for a few minutes a few times a day

Small changes add up to big steps forward,
don’t get fooled by these not being “enough”,
they absolutely are.

Wanna hear more about how Ive helped myself and my clients to lessen our MS symptoms so we feel better in our bodies?

I detail it in my chapter in Resilience Redefined.. comment “Book” and I’ll send you the link!!
...

23 5

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