Is MS A Mental Illness?

Can MS affect you mentally?

MS

can cause significant anxiety, distress, anger, and frustration

from the moment of its very first symptoms. The uncertainty and unpredictability associated with MS is one of its most distressing aspects. In fact, anxiety is at least as common in MS as depression.

Can MS make you go crazy?

MS can raise your risk of emotional instability

, which may lead to uncontrollable laughing, crying, or even euphoria. However, therapy, medication, and frank communication may help you manage your mood swings.

Can you live a healthy life with MS?

You may have to adapt your daily life

if you’re diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), but with the right care and support many people can lead long, active and healthy lives.

Is MS a physical or mental disability?

Multiple sclerosis is an auto-immune disease and the most common cause of

serious physical disability

in working-age adults. MS is usually diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disorder of the sheath that covers nerve fibers in the body.

How long does it take for MS to disable you?

However, if MS does progress to advanced stages, a person’s quality of life can be impacted. For instance, it may become very difficult to walk, write, or speak. Although only very rarely fatal, MS can shorten a person’s

life by up to 7 years

.

Does MS change your personality?

While many with MS will experience depression or anxiety at some point,

more rarely

, some people experience changes to their emotions or behaviour that don’t seem to make sense, or that they aren’t able to control.

Does MS make you lose your mind?

Over time, about half of people with

MS can have some cognitive problems

. That means poor focus, slowed thinking, or a fuzzy memory. Often, these problems are mild and don’t really interrupt your daily life.

Does MS cause weight gain?

It’s also common for people with

MS to gain weight due to their symptoms

. It’s important to try and reach a moderate weight and maintain it. Being overweight or underweight can worsen MS symptoms. Read on to learn how to maintain a moderate weight with MS.

What does end stage MS look like?

The most common symptoms include

fatigue , walking difficulties

, bowel and bladder disturbances, vision problems, changes in brain function, changes in sexual function, pain and depression or mood swings.

Can MS cause anxiety attacks?

Anxiety. Approximately half of people who have MS and depression also experience anxiety . But anxiety can also

occur independently without

depression. Anxiety disorders are three times more common in MS than in the general population.

What do MS headaches feel like?

Throbbing, sharp, and stabbing headaches

were described by close to 50% of all MS patients in this study. Dull pain was reported by 28% of patients, and a tight band or burning feeling occurred in fewer than 20% of patients.

Can you have MS for years and not know it?

“MS is diagnosed most commonly in the ages between 20 and 50. It can occur in children and teens, and those older than 50,” said Smith. “But

it can go unrecognized for years

.” Added Rahn, “The incidence of MS in the United States according to the Multiple Sclerosis Society is over 1 million people.

What should I avoid if I have MS?

It’s recommended that people with MS avoid certain foods, including

processed meats

, refined carbs, junk foods, trans fats, and sugar-sweetened beverages.

Will I end up in a wheelchair with MS?

Everyone with MS ends up in a wheelchair

Not true

. Many people living with MS remain able to walk unassisted, while a smaller number need the help of a mobility aid.

What are the final stages of multiple sclerosis?

• Vision problems, including blurriness or blindness.
• Muscle weakness.
• Difficulty with coordination and balance.
• Problems with walking and standing.
• Feelings of numbness, prickling, or pain.
• Partial or complete paralysis.
• Difficulty speaking.