There’s comfort in putting a name to a multiple sclerosis symptom

I feel like I’ve been in this exact place, saying exactly what I’m saying right now. Have I done this in a past life? Did I dream it and am now subconsciously acting it out in reality? Or is my brain performing a fact-check on its memory system and signaling it with the sensation known as déjà vu?

The French term means “already seen,” though you’re probably aware of it, as most people have this experience at least once in their lifetime. What you may not know (I didn’t) is that déjà vu has an opposite: jamais vu, or “never seen.”

This uncanny feeling occurs when something routine and familiar seems strange, as though you’re looking at it for the first time. I experience it occasionally when writing. A word I’ve used routinely for years will suddenly look odd and misspelled. I sometimes have to look it up before my brain is convinced that it’s a real word.

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I don’t bring up this feeling of recall without recognition just to share something strange I read online. I think it gives a name to one of the cognitive issues I experience with multiple sclerosis (MS), and that’s a comfort to me. I’ve noted before that I was initially glad to have my MS diagnosis, because I didn’t have to wonder what was wrong with me anymore. Knowing the name of my ailment didn’t fix anything, but it gave me something to focus on. Having a possible explanation for a problem with my thinking feels the same.

My multiple sclerosis symptoms are mostly physical, so it concerns me to the point of obsession when I detect a problem with my mental functioning. Having familiar words, faces, or locations suddenly seem unfamiliar had me questioning my mental fitness. Jamais vu might be the explanation, and I could be experiencing it more frequently for several plausible reasons.

According to a HuffPost article, researchers believe repetition could be a factor in jamais vu. That certainly explains why oft-used words can suddenly seem foreign. But what about the rest of my life with MS?

I frequently say that this disease is consistently inconsistent — and it is, but there’s plenty of routine, too. I don’t walk, so pardon the pun, but I take many of the same steps to accomplish simple tasks each day. When getting into the car suddenly seems brand new, it could be because I’m so used to the routine. I just need to breathe and reset instead of getting frustrated.

Another possible reason for the disconnect with recall is that you’re trying to process something while distracted. Multiple sclerosis is nothing if not distracting, so that makes sense. Opening the refrigerator is daunting, as is remembering what I’m even there for after having to plan how to get there and then carry out each step.

Finally, the article noted that stress has been associated with increased instances of jamais vu. Do you ever experience stress with your MS? I do, too, so I won’t bother coming up with a clever-sounding example.

Instead, I’ll simply say that we may not be able to prevent our cognitive issues, but we might be able to recognize a potential cause and find some comfort in familiarity. I’ll take some over none.

Note: Multiple Sclerosis News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Multiple Sclerosis News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to multiple sclerosis.