How to support someone Diagnosed with MS

Multiple sclerosis also known as MS. MS is a disease in which the spinal cord and brain aren’t functioning. The immune system becomes weak and attacks. This creates problems between the brain in sending messages to the rest of the body. Some may lose the ability to walk and other body functions as well.

Multiple Sclerosis comes with the following symptoms, fatigues, dizziness, pain in body, and sexual, bladder and bowel problems. More then 2.3 million people have multiple scoliosis around the world and is a non-curable disease.

MS comes with many battles for the person, learn more on how to support someone who is diagnosed with MS.

Supporting someone with MS

There are a lot of things to keep in mind when it comes to a patient that suffers from MS. In order to be there for support, one must understand the uncertainty that MS comes with. You must treat them as a normal as possible, because they still want to be treated as the same person you met before the disease. Offer them help for everyday things, they tend to have challenges during their daily activities.

Multiple Sclerosis can take a toll on a lot of relationships, friendships and people. Friends have to be willing to provide the extra support in making the person feel normal as possible, so they won’t feel left out of the normal activities people do.

Someone with MS has different stages of how they cope with the disease and how they refer to it as a person.

The three stages are

-Denial

-Over acceptance

-Balanced attitude

Some patients don’t want to acknowledge the changes in their life and refuse to accept their fate. This is where denial hits and they start becoming very prideful. On the other hand, some patients deal with over acceptance and they use the disease as an excuse to give in and get their way.

It is best to acknowledge the stages of the loved one to better support them during their journey and how to be there as friend without dis including them in social activities.

What not to say to a MS patient

Patients with MS usually tend to feel left out because of their inability to do things. Here are some things not to say to a friend that suffers from MS:

“I heard about this new treatment you should try it”

“You look good”

“One my friends had MS”

Support strategies

A lot of Emotional changes occur for a patient with MS. There are a lot of ups and downs and can occur at random times for the patient.

Learning and researching as much as possible for a friend that suffers from MS can be very beneficial.

Being present with them at any time of the day can show how much support you have for them. Going to appointments with them, knowing the medication they need and so on.

Making the area around them as comfortable as possible is the way to go! Maybe try building or buying ramps for them around their house, have all their essentials in a reachable spot for them. This can help them feel comfortable to their everyday living.

If you have any questions regarding hospice services for a loved one, reach out to us at your preferred time.