The arrival of the
holiday season can often bring feelings of isolation and loneliness. However, isolation and loneliness
can also accompany a diagnosis of MS any
time of year.
The funny thing about loneliness is how very little it
has to do with actually being alone. Loneliness describes an emotional
response to one's circumstances. It is a state of feeling
disconnected.
Adding to this is the varied
nature of MS. Each person experiences it
differently, which makes it difficult for one to
completely understand another’s experiences.
I think one of the core causes of loneliness is feeling different from everyone
else.
I work from home so I am alone a lot. I often enjoy my
alone time – I read what I want to read, listen to what I want to listen to,
and watch what I want to watch. But I also get lonely. Especially when my MS
gets in the way of a normal day or when I am reminded of my “otherness.” My
disability separates me from the group. I have to work, if not harder at least
differently, to get through the day. My thoughts drift to my disease and
disability throughout the day. This reinforces my
feelings of “otherness” and thus loneliness.
