I have a saying about dealing with MS (and any other autoimmune/chronic illnesses) that inevitably comes up in my work with clients:
“You don’t get it, until you get it”

Meaning, you don’t understand living life with MS (or any of the above), until you live in a body that has it.

Which is why living with MS can be so tough and lonely, because its hard to find people that truly understand what you mean when you say you’re exhausted, or brain foggy or “fine”.

This is also why I believe that having a community of others who get it is invaluable.

I’ve seen countless times over where someone new to one of my groups is able to feel fully seen and heard for the first time, and that is priceless for them and their healing.

They walk away feeling validated, understood and at home, which are hard to come by at the doctors office 😂🙄

You’re not too much
You’re not alone
You’re not lazy
You’re just talking to the wrong people.

If you wanna talk to the right people, I’m creating something for you..

Think, somewhere to go online, where you can: connect with others who have MS, get questions about MS answered, get tools that can help your symptoms, support & accountability to help with actually doing those things..

BUT- only the waitlist is going to hear about it. So- if you want to be notified and involved in creating whats coming, comment WAITLIST and you’re in

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #multiplesclerosiscommunity #thisisms #becausems #multiplesclerosissupport

As I type this post, we’re on the way to 100 degrees today and we’re in the middle of a heat wave.
🥵 is an understatement lol.

If you’re an MSer.. you know an increase in temperature can cause our already compromised neurons to work even less effectively than normal.

There’s a few things I have found helpful for managing the heat:

BE PROACTIVE: Instead of waiting until you’re about to melt, use cooling strategies before you really need them.

CREATE AN OASIS: If you don’t have central AC in your house, make (at least) one room in your house a cool oasis to hide in.

ACCESSORIZE: Get alllll the cooling products. @koldtec @releafpack and a cooling vest are a must!

HYDRATE: Drink plenty of water and add electrolytes! Trace Minerals is my fav, but there is Buoy, LMNT or Liquid IV too!

But most of all, make sure to advocate for yourself and your comfort.

You deserve comfort as well as any other person.
Please don’t let anxiety and fear of “ruining” a summer day keep you from asking/stating what you need.

What are your top ways to stay cool?? Tell us below!

PS!!
I’m deep in the trenches creating a one stop shop for anything and everything MS healing. A place where you can plug into and get ideas for recipes, workouts, stress management and living life with MS.
As well as support and understanding from people who get what it means to live with an autoimmune disease.

Only the waitlist will get an invite- comment WAITLIST below and I’ll add you!!

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #thisisms #becausems #heatintolerance #healingmultiplesclerosis

What she also didn’t know?
The MS diagnosis would be the best thing to happen to her

Ok maybe not best lol, but I now can see what a gift it was.

You see, the MS diagnosis I got eventually gave me a reckoning moment with my health.

Change something, or else this is gonna go downhill fast.
This being my body, my ability to move, to live doing the things I want to do.

And man did it help.

I went from “aggressive MS” to not even thinking about MS on some days.

This process I went through? That’s exactly what I help others with now.

I currently have 2 Individual Client spots open!! (1 might be gone soon though..)

We can work on..
✨How you’re feeling mentally & emotionally about your MS diagnosis.
✨Strategies to mitigate your symptoms, that include nutrition, movement and cognitive/emotional methods
✨Anything else your body needs

Interested in what this would look like for you?
Comment 🧡🧡 below and I’ll send you details!!

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #nervoussystemregulation #thisisms #becausems #multiplesclerosiswarrior #multiplesclerosissupport

First..
Save this reel so you can come back to it and send it to a bestie so they can feel better too!!

Now.. how do you feel after taking that breath?

A little more calm, centered and focused?
Probably.

How we breathe is such a huge piece of the nervous system regulation puzzle, this well def help in your efforts.

Give it a try a few times a day, and let me know what you notice!!

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 15+ years with MS) to help my clients decrease their symptoms, improve their overall health and get back to living life on their terms, not MS’ terms.

I currently have 2 Individual Coaching spots open!! (if you live in MA I take some insurance!!)
Comment 🧡 below to learn more!!

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #nervoussystemregulation #becausems #thisisms #multiplesclerosiswarrior #healingmultiplesclerosis

5 Habits to Help MS Symptoms

In no particular order:
• Food/ our diet
• Movement
• Breathing
• Tracking/Review
• Joy! Fun! Presence!

Want my free Eating for MS Guide? Comment FOOD and I’ll send it to you!

Want my 3 minute morning routine that helps your brain, body and mind?
Comment MOVE and I’ll send it to you!

Let me know if you like these lives and want to hear about more topics!

5 Underrated Supplements to help MS symptoms

In no particular order:
• ALA- Alpha Lipoic Acid
• NAC N-Acetylcystine
• Lions Mane Mushroom
• NADH/NAD+
• Pre/Probiotics

Have you tried any of these before??
What has been your experience?

5 things to keep in mind about nutrition and MS

1. Addition before subtraction
2. Eat your fruits, veggies and fats
3. Think about how you’re eating vs what you’re eating
4. Hydrate!!
5. Consider elimination if needed

More questions on food for MS?
Grab your Eating for MS Guide in my bio!!

Just a guess…

Did I nail it? Almost? I bet.

I’ve seen the same patterns over and over within my clients (and tbh myself)

Growing up hyper independent..
Possibly not getting your needs met as a kid..
Feeling like you’re in control of it all girl boss style..
But unable to say no when asked to do anything..

You think you’re just being helpful, or kind, or smart..

In reality you’re keeping yourself stuck and sick.

Babe lemme tell you, there is a way out.

Embodied Resilience gives you that path out from under your unhelpful patterns (that always saying yes thing) and your over stressed life

Comment OUT below and I’ll send you details on the group.. we start next week!!

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #nervoussystemregulation #multiplesclerosiswarrior #nervoussystemhealing #thisisms #becausems #msawarenessmonth

Stress & MS!!

• How our nervous system should function
• Why it doesn’t work “right” in todays world
• How to support our nervous system & stress response

First, comment SAFE below and I’ll send you details on my course Embodied Resilience-
(Maybe the only live round this year) we start March 10th!!

Years and years ago, someone really confused me when they said meditating made their anxiety worse.

My baby therapist-in-training brain thought, well crap- isn’t that supposed to help???

While yes, it is supposed to, it often doesn’t.
(Especially if you’ve experienced trauma)

You see, before we get quiet with our thoughts in meditation, our bodies need to feel safe doing so.

If you don’t feel safe in your body, meditation won’t “work”.

I see this all the time in my clients:
• they’re going a mile a minute throughout the day..
• thinking 10 steps ahead of what they’re doing..
• ignoring their body all day..

then all of a sudden they sit down to try and meditate and- shocker- they “can’t”

You too? You’re not broken- promise 🧡🧡

Try this instead:
- Stop what you’re doing and actually sit down (I’ll wait)
- Close your eyes, take a few deep breaths and focus on a loud whooooooshing exhale
- Put your hand on your chest and notice what your body is physically feeling (tight chest? Hole in your stomach? Exhaustion?)
- Gently sway/rock your shoulders back and forth
- Open your eyes and come back to your surroundings. Look around the room and name a few objects you see around you out loud.
- How did that feel to your mind and body?

If you’ve been trying all the things to help reduce stress + calm your body and mind but find they “don’t work” I invite you into Embodied Resilience.

This is one of my signature programs designed to help you learn how to actually manage stress in an effective way, so stress doesn’t cause a MS symptom flare or worse- full blown relapse.

We’re still in pre-sale, so to get the best price grab your spot now!!

#lissms #thisisms #becausems #multiplesclerosis #nervoussystemregulation #nervoussystemhealing #healingmultiplesclerosis #multiplesclerosiswarrior

This is where I start all my clients when they want to start working on their:
- stress management and response
- nervous system regulation
- undoing the unhelpful behavior patterns that got us sick (people pleasing, perfectionism etc)

And the first step I’ll share in my masterclass tomorrow, Cultivating Resilience, all about stress + MS.
I’ll tell you about the rest of the process too.

Haven’t signed up yet? There’s still time!!
Comment STRESS below and I’ll send you the link to sign up!!

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #nervoussystemregulation #stressmanagement #healingmultiplesclerosis #thisisms #becausems