How MS Makes Us Old Before Our Time
Multiple sclerosis (MS) hits most of its targets when they are young. Being the most prevalent neurological disease that hits young adults in the world, MS’s disabling effects can age its victims far earlier than they had ever expected.
From the onset of diagnosis, people with MS are struck with neurological damage that can slow them down and chip away at the list of activities that were once the very definition of youth. MS hits a person’s strength, drains a person’s fine motor skills, and cuts away at their energy, stealing the vivacity that was once there.
MS is inconsiderate and it does not stop. MS finds its way into every aspect of a person’s life. A person who was once carefree, happy and strong can very easily and expediently find his or herself feeling lost, tired and useless.
When our human bodies lose functionality that was once natural and expected, the tendency to feel lost, tired and useless can bleed into their mindset. Life can feel heavy and meaningless if we allow the disease to dictate our experiences within it.
Carrying the MS Burden
I have read countless articles about learning how to let go of the things you love as the phases of MS progress throughout different lives. It is a mindset I never can get used to — it makes me furious really.
I don’t mean to say that people with MS should live in denial. For sure, the likelihood of losing functionality is very real and very present. What I am saying is it is hard to live a happy life when you are constantly letting go of the small things you love.
I have MS. I also have a life. My life was in full swing for many years before MS sauntered in and started trying to rob things when I wasn’t looking, and I refuse to live in a police state now that it has arrived.
MS can take my vision, but there are ways of reading without my eyes. MS can take my ability to walk, but I will still travel, go boating, go swimming and all of the other lovely things I do today.
The point is, MS is in my life, but MS does not dictate what I do with it.
Make Your Mindset a Priority
It is important to make it a priority to check in with yourself and evaluate how you are interacting with the world you live in. I believe this is a relevant point for anyone in the world.
However, when you have MS, I feel that checking in with yourself is the only way to live a full life with this disease.
We all have our daily challenges — our daily routines and strategies to get by and get things done. We have doctors, insurance companies, health tests, medicines, pharmacies to deal with.
The list of daily tasks and responsibilities can go on and on. And that is all before you even start to look at what you need to do for your life beyond this disease! And that is my point.
Dealing with MS is expensive for your time, energy and financial budget. It is easy to get so wrapped up in just dealing that we don’t realize when we are checking out on the small joys that make up the bulk of our happiness.
Life can begin to feel dull, predictable and old, way, way before your time, while youth is still very presently running through your veins.
