Multiple sclerosis or MS is an autoimmune condition. Getting diagnosed with MS can be scary and challenging, but it can also ultimately lead to a lot of self-discovery and life lessons. Some of the most amazing things that you can learn about yourself while having MS are:
- Learning to see yourself differently. Life with MS is bound to be different. Your ordinary, everyday reality will be affected. You will have to shift your priorities to things like exercising, resting, and eating as healthily as possible. As a result, you will be less productive in some ways than you were before you had MS. To fully accept your new reality of having MS, you have to let go of the expectations you previously had of yourself. Learning to do this can allow you to see how strong, brave, and resilient you can be in the face of this life-changing diagnosis.
- Learning to feel more attuned to your body. When you have multiple sclerosis, self-care takes on a whole new meaning. You have to develop more sensitivity to your body and its needs. After some time having MS, you might find that you are much more attuned to your body, and you can tell when you might be experiencing a flair-up or a particular symptom of MS. You will also be better able to understand how to give yourself the care you need, and you will discover the importance of rest for helping your body to properly function.
- Learning to have more empathy for others. MS is an invisible disability. You can be having a terrible day in which you feel disconnected and tired, but you can look completely normal to the rest of the world. It can be difficult when your inside world and your outside world are so disparate. Sometimes, others can lack patience or understanding, and they can become angry if you are having trouble communicating or moving around in the world. These experiences can teach you to have more empathy for others. It can give you a deeper appreciation for the fact that you genuinely do not know what other people are struggling with.
Overall, having MS can teach you a lot about yourself. While it can be a challenging and painful experience, there is also so much wisdom that can come out of it.
