MS and Emotional Health

MS is a disease that affects you physically. But it can also take a toll on your emotions. It's common for people with MS to experience feelings of anger, frustration, hopelessness and depression. And that's true throughout your journey with MS, not just for those who are newly diagnosed.

In this emotional health section of MS ActiveSource, you can watch videos of people living with MS as they talk about their own emotional experiences with MS. Then, get expert commentary from Dr. Peter Arnett, one of the foremost leaders in MS research on emotion and cognition.

• Personal Feelings From the anger and fear of diagnosis, to the peace of mind of learning to cope, MS can feel like a personal roller coaster. See how you can understand your own emotions and learn to develop strategies that can help you overcome your own emotional hurdles.
• Relationships MS doesn't just affect those with the disease. It affects everyone around you. From your spouse to your coworkers, find out how MS can impact the relationships you have with those closest to you.

About Dr. Arnett

Dr. Peter Arnett is a licensed psychologist, with an expertise in clinical neuropsychology. His work involves investigating the factors that influence cognitive performance in people with MS, including the connection of emotional health to cognition.

More on Dr. Arnett.

About our Interviewees

Meet Mega

Mega is a young, vibrant woman who was diagnosed with MS in 2000. Learning to cope wasn't always easy. See how Mega learned to handle her own emotions and the techniques she used to overcome her emotional challenges.

Meet Ryan and Dana

Being a police officer in a marriage with four new stepchildren would be a challenge for anyone, let alone someone living with MS. Find out how Ryan uses the strength of his family as a support in facing his own internal challenges.

Meet Marsha and John

When you've been married for more than 20 years, you've seen just about every one of your spouse's emotions. Marsha and John share some strategies that they use to communicate with each other and stay emotionally connected.

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