When I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis I was only 24 years old. Nearing the end of graduate school, about to set out and find a “real job”, MS didn’t quite fit into that life picture I had envisioned for myself. But I guess that’s how that works, right? You’re never expecting anything that blindsides you.
When I was diagnosed, I didn’t know anything about the disease. When my neurologist talked about what I could potentially have on my initial visit, I had to go home and do some googling. Sure, I had heard about it, but I didn’t know about it.
After I was diagnosed, I was still in the dark. I read a lot of factual articles. Symptoms to look out for, things that could potentially be in my future. But I didn’t know what would make a difference or not. All I got from my neurologist was “choose a medication, and get started”. Naturally, I thought that’s all that mattered. However, I couldn’t have been more wrong.
MS is an individual disease, as we all eventually find out. When I researched MS, I found stories of disability, pain and struggle. I also found stories of triumph. The dichotomy left me somewhat confused. But I should have known that it didn’t matter what I read, it just mattered what I lived. My symptoms were mine, and no one else’s. Just as someone else’s symptoms were theirs, and not mine. What I read about someone else’s struggle might never come true for me. As hard as it is to not imagine the future, it didn’t do me any good. And still doesn’t.
At one doctors appointment, I remember asking my neurologist if anything else besides medication mattered, like what I was eating (this was before I knew better). He said he didn’t think so, but a Mediterranean type Diet wouldn’t hurt. Now I know that diet, and lifestyle changes in general, make all the difference in the world. It’s hard to choose which have the biggest impact, since they all seem to intertwine together. Diet lowers inflammation, stress management lowers inflammation and can increase quality of life, sleep lowers inflammation (among other things). I can’t pick just one that is most impactful.
This is one I’m still learning about daily. Your brain is a powerful little organ. If you think something is going to suck, most likely, it’s going to suck. If you think something is going to be great, most likely, it’s going to be great. Funny how that works. My husband has actually helped me out with this a great deal. I remember being at the hospital in the middle of a relapse, waiting for steroid infusions, hurting, not being in the mood for anything, let alone fun, and he is trying to make up games to play. Anything to get my mindset shifted and away from what is actually going on. Weird, it worked. Your brain is the most powerful tool you have, use it wisely.
Right now, almost 10 years after my diagnosis (yikes!) I’m feeling the best I have in my life. (knocking on every single wood surface around me). Life has definitely unfolded differently than I thought it would have, but then again, isn’t that how life works? Yes, I do some things differently because of MS, I know where every public restroom is, take it slower on hot days and head to the hospital once a month. But I also am living life regardless of my MS diagnosis. I run my own online Holistic Nutrition Coaching Business, I’m a wife and furbaby mom, and I still do many of the activities I did years ago. Life may look different, but it kinda doesn’t, all at once.
Some days are a-ok! Some days are totally not. Both are bound to happen, and both are ok. Even though I may feel ok at the moment, I still have those times where my imagination gets the best of me. Where I think about the future and envision the worst. The tears usually come, I let them flow through. They pass, my fear subsides, and I return to “normal”. Truth be told, this is a scary disease. Random symptoms pop up at the most random times, leaving me wondering “is that MS?” “is this a relapse?” “is this THAT TIME??”. That’s all scary to think about. But giving myself time and space for those emotional moments in between has been making a difference.
These things aren’t the only things I’d wish I’d have known.. just the biggies. I’m curious, what are somethings you wish you would have known when you were diagnosed? Let me know in the comments!
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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?
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!!
You don’t always have to love the hard action you’re taking to reach your goals.
You just have to show up.
You can do this… keep going 🧡🧡
*after discerning there’s no *actual* issue (pain, injury, illness etc) preventing me from working out, only that I’m a toddler and don’t wanna.
You don’t always have to love the hard action you’re taking to reach your goals.
You just have to show up.
You can do this… keep going 🧡🧡
*after discerning there’s no *actual* issue (pain, injury, illness etc) preventing me from working out, only that I’m a toddler and don’t wanna.
Have you pre ordered your copy of Resilience Redefined yet??
This is a chronicling of 7 individuals who have autoimmune disease (5 of which have MS too!!) and how they take care of themselves in the best ways they can.
Pre orders are open until October 24th!!
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 (first 10 pre orders)
Comment Book below and I’ll send you the link!!
Have you pre ordered your copy of Resilience Redefined yet??
This is a chronicling of 7 individuals who have autoimmune disease (5 of which have MS too!!) and how they take care of themselves in the best ways they can.
Pre orders are open until October 24th!!
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 (first 10 pre orders)
Comment Book below and I’ll send you the link!!
“Resilience is the process and outcome of successfully adapting to difficult or challenging life experiences, especially through mental, emotional, and behavioral flexibility and adjustment to external and internal demands.”
Resilience has become such a cornerstone word of the work I do this past year.
It makes sense this book I collaborated on with 6 other awesome & resilient authors was destined to have resilience in the title.
Did you see??
Pre Orders are open!
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 (first 10 pre orders)
Grab your copy here:
https://liss-ms.com/product/resilience-redefined-thriving-with-autoimmune-disease/
Or comment Book below and I’ll send you the link!!
“Resilience is the process and outcome of successfully adapting to difficult or challenging life experiences, especially through mental, emotional, and behavioral flexibility and adjustment to external and internal demands.”
Resilience has become such a cornerstone word of the work I do this past year.
It makes sense this book I collaborated on with 6 other awesome & resilient authors was destined to have resilience in the title.
Did you see??
Pre Orders are open!
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 (first 10 pre orders)
Grab your copy here:
https://liss-ms.com/product/resilience-redefined-thriving-with-autoimmune-disease/
Or comment Book below and I’ll send you the link!!
Struggling to start with exercise?
Try this tip!!
Creating a new habit (any of them) necessitate us to become someone new, someone different than we were.
Because we’re trying to do something different after all.
This is gentle way of starting that identity shift process.
Become who you want to be in your mind first.
Does this help?
What other habits do you need help with? Let me know in the comments!!
Struggling to start with exercise?
Try this tip!!
Creating a new habit (any of them) necessitate us to become someone new, someone different than we were.
Because we’re trying to do something different after all.
This is gentle way of starting that identity shift process.
Become who you want to be in your mind first.
Does this help?
What other habits do you need help with? Let me know in the comments!!
It’s only fitting that I announce my 2nd book (along with 7 other authors) on my 14 year anniversary with MS.
This is a book that I would have loved to read early on in my journey.
It’s about how we moved through our diagnosis and came out the other side for the better.
““Resilience Redefined” is not just a collection of stories; it is a call to action. The authors challenge those living with an autoimmune disease to not only survive but to thrive”
So… drumroll please…
Pre orders are officially open!!
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 (first 10 pre orders)
Grab your copy here: https://liss-ms.com/product/resilience-redefined-thriving-with-autoimmune-disease/
Or comment “book” below and I’ll send you the link!!
It’s only fitting that I announce my 2nd book (along with 7 other authors) on my 14 year anniversary with MS.
This is a book that I would have loved to read early on in my journey.
It’s about how we moved through our diagnosis and came out the other side for the better.
““Resilience Redefined” is not just a collection of stories; it is a call to action. The authors challenge those living with an autoimmune disease to not only survive but to thrive”
So… drumroll please…
Pre orders are officially open!!
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 (first 10 pre orders)
Grab your copy here: https://liss-ms.com/product/resilience-redefined-thriving-with-autoimmune-disease/
Or comment “book” below and I’ll send you the link!!
If you like being outside, check out the America the Beautiful Access Pass!
This is a pass for those with disabilities to get into National Parks, Monuments and more for FREE!!
You can get it online or at the entrance of a national park!
Share with anyone who also might like this!!
If you like being outside, check out the America the Beautiful Access Pass!
This is a pass for those with disabilities to get into National Parks, Monuments and more for FREE!!
You can get it online or at the entrance of a national park!
Share with anyone who also might like this!!
This is obvs one option of many on how to help yourself through these moments.
But when you’re stuck in negative worrying, don’t forget there can be a positive outcome too!
This is rewiring your brain in action.
You notice you’re doing something you always did,
Then do something different.
And boom! A new pathway is born.
It needs some love and attention to grow,
so keep practicing!
This is obvs one option of many on how to help yourself through these moments.
But when you’re stuck in negative worrying, don’t forget there can be a positive outcome too!
This is rewiring your brain in action.
You notice you’re doing something you always did,
Then do something different.
And boom! A new pathway is born.
It needs some love and attention to grow,
so keep practicing!
This isn’t a you problem, it’s your brain acting as it should.
Are you going through some change and upheaval right now too?
I see you.
Comment any questions on how to deal below and I’ll make a part 2!
This isn’t a you problem, it’s your brain acting as it should.
Are you going through some change and upheaval right now too?
I see you.
Comment any questions on how to deal below and I’ll make a part 2!
We have a new space for my (free) LissMS Healing Community!!
Come on in…
Let me show you around!
This is a space created by an MSer (me), for other MSers (you) to be able to come together and support each other, learn new tools to help manage MS and maybe find a few new internet friends!
Wanna join us?
Comment “community” below and I’ll send you the link!!
We have a new space for my (free) LissMS Healing Community!!
Come on in…
Let me show you around!
This is a space created by an MSer (me), for other MSers (you) to be able to come together and support each other, learn new tools to help manage MS and maybe find a few new internet friends!
Wanna join us?
Comment “community” below and I’ll send you the link!!
There’s so much buzz about everything needing to feel good if it’s right for you.
Sure, there’s a time and a place for alignment.
But, growth often happens in the uncomfortable moments.
Just a reminder.
Keep going.
❤️
There’s so much buzz about everything needing to feel good if it’s right for you.
Sure, there’s a time and a place for alignment.
But, growth often happens in the uncomfortable moments.
Just a reminder.
Keep going.
❤️
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