Being diagnosed with MS was overwhelming. I was lucky
enough to be surrounded by a special group of family and friends who care about
me. And while I hate feeling like a burden, relying on my family and friends
makes things a lot easier.
I think my loved
ones feel useful if they’re included in my care - even if it’s a small thing
like moving a table or grabbing me a drink. Asking for help doesn’t make you
less capable. It makes your diagnosis easier to handle so that you can focus on
taking care of yourself.
Unfortunately, only people who
have MS really know what it’s like. I was lucky enough to find a support group,
MS Fight Club - physically located in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay
Area and accessible anywhere online. Finding this support group, which I
joined about six months after I was first diagnosed, was vital to my mental
health and understanding of my disease. This diverse support group showed me
the reality of MS with humor, perspective, and experience. MS Fight Club has an
active online presence via Facebook and Twitter. Support is just a click away.
If you feel you
don’t have anyone to rely on, I urge you to connect with others with MS. They
can relate to you like no one else can. Contact your local chapter of the
National MS Society or other MS organizations. Search social media sites like
Facebook. I found these sites helpful:
Wheelchair Kamikaze – Marc’s blog
is amazing. He combines his own experiences with a multitude of information
about MS research and news.
Life with Multiple
Sclerosis – Travis Gleason gets down to the nitty-gritty of MS all
the while maintaining a positive attitude.
You can find more at The Best Multiple Sclerosis
Blogs of 2015.
There are resources out there
to help you build a new style of family and support system.
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