Feelings on Diagnosis
Being told you have MS can trigger a flood of different thoughts and emotions. Many people speak of their relief at knowing what is wrong with them, but others find the shock devastating. People with limited knowledge of MS often have images of wheelchairs and incontinence, and assume that this is how they will end up. Shock, fear, anger, grief and depression are all normal feelings, and vary in their intensity from person to person. You may feel a kind of numbness and find it difficult to accept the reality of the situation. If your symptoms are not obvious to others you may worry that they will refuse to take your illness seriously.
Your image of yourself as a healthy, ‘normal’ person may be shattered, and this may take a long time to come to terms with. You may feel a sense of loss or even bereavement. Cherished ambitions may suddenly seem out of reach, although for many people there is no reason why they should be. You may have worries about your career, your business, your education, how your partner will react or how you will cope looking after your family.
You may find it helpful to talk to one of the support lines that exist to help people with MS. They can talk through your feelings with you, answer some of your questions and put you in touch with other sources of information and support. If depression becomes a serious problem, think about professional counselling or ask your GP for help.