Depression


Multiple Sclerosis is a tough disease. It has many common symptoms, vision problems, balance issues, cognitive difficulties. But one that isn’t mentioned, but should be, is depression. Depression is one of the most common symptoms of MS, but one of the least talked about.

Prevalence

The numbers can vary from study to study, but around 40-50% of individuals who have MS will also experience an episode of depression at some point during the disease course. Some studies list it as higher, some lower, but the evidence is clear that depression and MS are linked.

The first reaction for many would be “this makes sense”. MS is a life altering condition that brings high anxiety about the future. But grief and depression are different. Grief is expected and usually improves over time. Or can increase if a new symptom is present, or a relapse occurs. Depression on the other hand, doesn’t improve as time goes on. Yes, if treatment is involved it can, but if left alone, usually it won’t reverse course on its own.

Brain Lesions

Several studies have looked at lesion burden, location and if these impact rates of depression. Studies found that brain lesions do seem correlated to depression rates, as those individuals with higher rates of brain lesions had higher rates of depression. Going a bit further, in these studies researchers were able to target specific areas of the brain and correlate depression with lesion location. Specifically the left anterior temporal and parietal regions. Now, I’m not saying that if you have lesions in your brain, or in these specific areas, you’re going to be depressed. Not at all. There are many other factors that are at play as well.

Cognitive Difficulties and Depression

Cognitive difficulties are another common symptom of MS. Around 40% of individuals state they have some aspect of cognitive issues. Although once thought to not be connected, cognitive issues are also connected to depression as well, especially moderate to severe depression. Studies are showing that tasks that require effort, like information processing, working memory and executive functioning are the things that are affected by depression. Routine tasks that are more like reflexes are not as affected. This might be one of the reasons why it might have been thought that depression and cognition were not correlated. At first on the surface, it seems like they aren’t. But once you dig a bit deeper and look at the full array of processing, it turns out they are.

Inflammation and Depression

One of the causes of depression that has been showing up in research in the past few years is inflammation. Even in individuals without MS, it has been shown that higher inflammation levels are correlated with depression rates. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association reported that brain inflammation was 30% higher in individuals who experienced depression. There is also evidence of increased proinflammatory cytokines in cerebrospinal fluid.

Treatment

With all the information regarding where depression may stem from for individuals with MS, you’d think treatment regimens would be clear. However, it’s not that simple. Considering many of the symptoms of depression and MS look similar, fatigue, cognitive issues and somatic pain (among others), diagnosing depression apart from MS can be rather tricky. However, this shouldn’t deter anyone from seeking treatment. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a form of talk therapy that is very effective with depression. Learning coping skills to help manage depression can be instrumental to living a functional life. Having a solid support system around you as well is important. And, trying measures to reduce both systemic and brain inflammation can be key as well. This could include daily stress management techniques, exercise, eating well and taking supplements. Finding what works for you in your self care plan is crucial.

It is clear that MS and depression are highly correlated. But that doesn’t mean it is an absolute, or a forever if you’re in it now. There are key steps you can take to reverse depression and feel in control again.

If you’re ever feeling suicidal, or in extreme emotional distress, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline — 800-273-TALK (8255) — or access the online Lifeline Crisis Chat. Crisis workers are available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Your toll free, confidential call will be routed to the nearest crisis center in the national network. These calls will provide crisis counseling and mental health referrals.

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:

First, save this for later!

Second, what you gotta know about “managing stress” is:
it really matters how you care for yourself in the moment and afterwards

You see, most of us know when we’re experiencing moments of stress, 
but we don’t know how to attend to ourselves to mitigate the impacts.

It all comes down to awareness of:
- Your present moment 
- How that moment is impacting your body 

Once you’re aware of how the stress you’re experiencing is impacting you and your body, THEN you can start attending to yourself and changing how your body handles stress.

👆🏼👆🏼that’s also how we mitigate stress induced MS symptoms or relapses.

Awareness is always the first step babe.

Wanna know more?

Come to my Masterclass all about stress + MS, Cultivating Resilience 

Comment ATTEND below and I’ll send you the link to save your seat!

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #healingmultiplesclerosis #nervoussystemregulation #stressmanagement #spoonielife #thisisms

First, save this for later!

Second, what you gotta know about “managing stress” is:
it really matters how you care for yourself in the moment and afterwards

You see, most of us know when we’re experiencing moments of stress,
but we don’t know how to attend to ourselves to mitigate the impacts.

It all comes down to awareness of:
- Your present moment
- How that moment is impacting your body

Once you’re aware of how the stress you’re experiencing is impacting you and your body, THEN you can start attending to yourself and changing how your body handles stress.

👆🏼👆🏼that’s also how we mitigate stress induced MS symptoms or relapses.

Awareness is always the first step babe.

Wanna know more?

Come to my Masterclass all about stress + MS, Cultivating Resilience

Comment ATTEND below and I’ll send you the link to save your seat!

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #healingmultiplesclerosis #nervoussystemregulation #stressmanagement #spoonielife #thisisms
...

5 1
Yes I had been moving consistently
Yes I had been eating my veggies

But, the big thing that has helped over the last few years is regulating my nervous system.

You wouldn’t necessarily think so right away but let me explain..

You see, working on your nervous system means improving the amount of stress your body can handle.

And when your body can handle more stress, you can do more things (like walk miles and miles)

Stress is one of the biggest triggers for MS symptoms and relapses, so working on your nervous system usually brings MS symptom relief.

ESPECIALLY when you’ve “done everything” and “nothing works”

I’m hosting a Masterclass on Feb 18th:
The MS Stress Solution

Inside you’ll learn my blueprint for nervous system regulation that I’ve used with my clients.

Comment STRESS below and I’ll send you the link to save your seat!!

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #nervoussystemregulation #nervoussystemhealing #thisisms #becausems #stressmanagement

Yes I had been moving consistently
Yes I had been eating my veggies

But, the big thing that has helped over the last few years is regulating my nervous system.

You wouldn’t necessarily think so right away but let me explain..

You see, working on your nervous system means improving the amount of stress your body can handle.

And when your body can handle more stress, you can do more things (like walk miles and miles)

Stress is one of the biggest triggers for MS symptoms and relapses, so working on your nervous system usually brings MS symptom relief.

ESPECIALLY when you’ve “done everything” and “nothing works”

I’m hosting a Masterclass on Feb 18th:
The MS Stress Solution

Inside you’ll learn my blueprint for nervous system regulation that I’ve used with my clients.

Comment STRESS below and I’ll send you the link to save your seat!!

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #nervoussystemregulation #nervoussystemhealing #thisisms #becausems #stressmanagement
...

11 4
Get in MS girlie, we have stress to manage 💅

But seriously… stress management is the KEY to symptom management when you live with MS or any autoimmune disease or chronic illness.

You see- STRESS is where our autoimmune diseases alllll started.

Either due to emotional stress, physical stress, environmental stress… you get the picture, stress is the problem.

And unfortunately- it’s never going away, we can only learn how to manage it better for ourselves and our bodies.

Totally lost on how to do that? I got you!

I’m hosting a free masterclass all about how to manage stress in your daily lives- and in a way that doesn’t add a ton to your already packed to-do list.

Wanna sign up? Duh..
Comment STRESS below and I’ll send you the link to save your seat!!

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

Get in MS girlie, we have stress to manage 💅

But seriously… stress management is the KEY to symptom management when you live with MS or any autoimmune disease or chronic illness.

You see- STRESS is where our autoimmune diseases alllll started.

Either due to emotional stress, physical stress, environmental stress… you get the picture, stress is the problem.

And unfortunately- it’s never going away, we can only learn how to manage it better for ourselves and our bodies.

Totally lost on how to do that? I got you!

I’m hosting a free masterclass all about how to manage stress in your daily lives- and in a way that doesn’t add a ton to your already packed to-do list.

Wanna sign up? Duh..
Comment STRESS below and I’ll send you the link to save your seat!!

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #nervoussystemregulation #nervoussystemhealing #thisisms #becausems #stressmanagement #seasonaldepression #healingmultiplesclerosis
...

5 0
It’s amazing what taking a few minutes to breathe and reassure yourself can do, ya know??

If you have MS and this gives you an immediate uncomfy feeling in your gut because you never advocate for yourself and your needs, 

You need to come to my next Masterclass:
Managing Stress to Manage MS

We’ll be talking about:
* How Stress Works: Discover how your body’s stress response system operates and why it plays such a big role in your overall health.
* Stress and MS: Understand how stress impacts MS symptoms and why it can sometimes make symptom flares worse.
* Building Your Resilience: Get simple, effective strategies to boost your stress resilience and help ease MS symptoms for a healthier, more balanced life.

Happening February 10th at 6pm EST!
Comment NEEDS below and I’ll send you the link to register! 

#multiplesclerosis #lissms #nervoussystemregulation #nervoussystemhealing #healingmultiplesclerosis #thisisms

It’s amazing what taking a few minutes to breathe and reassure yourself can do, ya know??

If you have MS and this gives you an immediate uncomfy feeling in your gut because you never advocate for yourself and your needs,

You need to come to my next Masterclass:
Managing Stress to Manage MS

We’ll be talking about:
* How Stress Works: Discover how your body’s stress response system operates and why it plays such a big role in your overall health.
* Stress and MS: Understand how stress impacts MS symptoms and why it can sometimes make symptom flares worse.
* Building Your Resilience: Get simple, effective strategies to boost your stress resilience and help ease MS symptoms for a healthier, more balanced life.

Happening February 10th at 6pm EST!
Comment NEEDS below and I’ll send you the link to register!

#multiplesclerosis #lissms #nervoussystemregulation #nervoussystemhealing #healingmultiplesclerosis #thisisms
...

9 1
This is hard!!

We feel like “we should be able to” still do the cleaning, chores, putting things away etc etc etc.. 

But in reality- our bodies need and crave rest and recovery first.

If we don’t give our bodies what they need voluntarily, they’ll find a way to make us.

Really struggle with this idea of listening to and caring for your body?
(I get it- it’s not a skill we’re taught)

I’m hosting a (free) masterclass on this and “managing stress” in January, comment CLASS and I’ll send you the link to sign up!! 

#multiplesclerosis #nervoussystemregulation #nervoussystemhealing #stressmanagement #lissms #thisisms #becausems #seasonaldepression #anxiety

This is hard!!

We feel like “we should be able to” still do the cleaning, chores, putting things away etc etc etc..

But in reality- our bodies need and crave rest and recovery first.

If we don’t give our bodies what they need voluntarily, they’ll find a way to make us.

Really struggle with this idea of listening to and caring for your body?
(I get it- it’s not a skill we’re taught)

I’m hosting a (free) masterclass on this and “managing stress” in January, comment CLASS and I’ll send you the link to sign up!!

#multiplesclerosis #nervoussystemregulation #nervoussystemhealing #stressmanagement #lissms #thisisms #becausems #seasonaldepression #anxiety
...

16 5
I get it..

It seems like it would be good.

Because others around you are taken care of..
Because others around you feel good..
Because others around you are happy..

But what about you??

In reality, that’s just making it harder for you to help yourself heal and probs making your MS symptoms worse.

I’ve worked with so many people with MS and autoimmune disease… 1 thing (among many) that they all have in common is a habit of putting others before themselves, saying yes way too much and forgetting about what they want themselves.

Feel a little called out?
Then my course Embodied Resilience is for you.

This is a course all about managing + improving your stress tolerance- since stress is the number 1 trigger of symptom flares and relapses

And- it’s on sale for Black Friday!!
Comment SALE below and I’ll send you the link!!

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #healingmultiplesclerosis #thisisms #becausems

I get it..

It seems like it would be good.

Because others around you are taken care of..
Because others around you feel good..
Because others around you are happy..

But what about you??

In reality, that’s just making it harder for you to help yourself heal and probs making your MS symptoms worse.

I’ve worked with so many people with MS and autoimmune disease… 1 thing (among many) that they all have in common is a habit of putting others before themselves, saying yes way too much and forgetting about what they want themselves.

Feel a little called out?
Then my course Embodied Resilience is for you.

This is a course all about managing + improving your stress tolerance- since stress is the number 1 trigger of symptom flares and relapses

And- it’s on sale for Black Friday!!
Comment SALE below and I’ll send you the link!!

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #healingmultiplesclerosis #thisisms #becausems
...

25 7
✨Moving your body✨

Notice I didn’t say exercise, although yes that also helps.

Stress hormones can get stuck in our bodies, our cells, our muscle tissue for various reasons.

Making it super easy for us to carry stress around with us- which shows up often as:

Pain
Tension
Trouble breathing
Difficulty with balance

It’s no coincidence that these are often prominent MS symptoms too. Sometimes it’s hard to tell where effects of MS end and effects of stress begin.

Being able to offload accumulated stress is key to being able to improve MS symptoms.

My course Embodied Resilience shows you exactly how to do this, and it’s gonna be on sale for Black Friday.

Comment ME below and I’ll send you the sale link when it’s ready!! 

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #nervoussystemhealing #nervoussystemregulation #stressmanagement #thisisms #becausems

✨Moving your body✨

Notice I didn’t say exercise, although yes that also helps.

Stress hormones can get stuck in our bodies, our cells, our muscle tissue for various reasons.

Making it super easy for us to carry stress around with us- which shows up often as:

Pain
Tension
Trouble breathing
Difficulty with balance

It’s no coincidence that these are often prominent MS symptoms too. Sometimes it’s hard to tell where effects of MS end and effects of stress begin.

Being able to offload accumulated stress is key to being able to improve MS symptoms.

My course Embodied Resilience shows you exactly how to do this, and it’s gonna be on sale for Black Friday.

Comment ME below and I’ll send you the sale link when it’s ready!!

#lissms #multiplesclerosis #nervoussystemhealing #nervoussystemregulation #stressmanagement #thisisms #becausems
...

9 2
I’ve seen myself and tons of clients through behavior change to help improve their MS + autoimmune disease symptoms.

There are SO MANY things that can help us.

But the one I’ve seen move the needle the most?

Working on your mindset and stress management tools.

We can change our diet
Change how we move 
Change the products we’re using
Change the supplements we take..

But if we’re still in the high stress state that most of us are in.. all those will only go so far.

Stress is my biggest symptom trigger, and 99% of my clients feel the same.

My biggest course sale is coming Black Friday, included is my course Embodied Resilience, all about learning how to actually manage stress- so you’re not constantly battling MS flares too.

My email list is gonna get first dibs..
Comment LIST below and I’ll add you so you’re notified first!!

I’ve seen myself and tons of clients through behavior change to help improve their MS + autoimmune disease symptoms.

There are SO MANY things that can help us.

But the one I’ve seen move the needle the most?

Working on your mindset and stress management tools.

We can change our diet
Change how we move
Change the products we’re using
Change the supplements we take..

But if we’re still in the high stress state that most of us are in.. all those will only go so far.

Stress is my biggest symptom trigger, and 99% of my clients feel the same.

My biggest course sale is coming Black Friday, included is my course Embodied Resilience, all about learning how to actually manage stress- so you’re not constantly battling MS flares too.

My email list is gonna get first dibs..
Comment LIST below and I’ll add you so you’re notified first!!
...

18 8
And my period started to add to the joy 🙃🙃

We can do hard things y’all,
breathe in, breathe out,
all will be well.

#Electionstress #seasonaldepression #anxiety #multiplesclerosis

And my period started to add to the joy 🙃🙃

We can do hard things y’all,
breathe in, breathe out,
all will be well.

#Electionstress #seasonaldepression #anxiety #multiplesclerosis
...

19 4

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