Community and human connections are vital in life with MS

One of the most essential parts of living with multiple sclerosis (MS) is building support systems. They offer practical help, but better yet, they also consider and foster our emotional survival.

MS is full of unknowns and can thus be characterized as unpredictable. But one thing we can predict is that the disease can be isolating. Tackling MS by yourself can become emotionally, mentally, and physically exhausting. Asking for help and leaning on your support system, and your MS community, are not signs of weakness, but indications of our power.

First, we must recognize that support looks different for everyone. Just as our MS journeys are unique for each of us, the types of support we need are individual. The help we receive — and allow ourselves to receive — should be shaped by what we truly need and are ready to acknowledge, not what others think we need.

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For me, a significant type of support is when others check in on me, subtly yet steadily. That makes a massive difference in my emotional and mental health. Messages of love and care are gentle reminders that I’m not alone and that my well-being is vital to others.

My mom and I, for instance, live in different cities, about an hour apart. We may not have the time to talk on the phone daily, but she sends text messages asking how I’m doing and reminding me how much she loves me. On my worst and best days, these messages help me push through.

Many avenues of support

For others among us, however, support may look completely different. It could be loud and visible, or faint and indirect. It could be a friend picking up groceries for us during a flare, a loved one accompanying us to a doctor appointment, or a recognition of shifts in symptoms or a sharing of personal experience. Perhaps we’re sharing experiences with fellow MS patients.

And when considering such sharing, keep online and digital communities, such as Multiple Sclerosis News Today, in mind, as well. They can provide meaningful interactions and opportunities for engagement, beyond friends and family. Many digital MS spaces can be beneficial, such as Reddit threads, Facebook groups, X feeds, and so many more.

Your closest allies, friends, and supporters may be nationwide or worldwide. Sharing personal experiences, resources, and honest fears with other MS patients is valuable because we tend to understand one another.

Support systems and communities may not be able to cure MS, but they sure do lighten the load. Life with MS can be lonely at times, even when we’re surrounded by a room full of people. But finding our people and shoulders to lean on can bring back the laughter, love, strength, and connection when we need them the most.

Human connection is an essential and foundational part of our existence. And those connections can make all the difference during our MS journeys. We don’t have to navigate our disease alone.

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.