Mood, Depression, and Emotions 3 of 3

Guilt

Sometimes people with MS find they feel guilty, as if they have let their family and friends down or are somehow responsible for developing the condition. They may also feel guilty if they think they have burdened partners or children with a changing lifestyle or reduced income.

In addition, family members may blame the person with MS for difficulties that the condition has created, such as financial or relationship problems. This can make feelings of guilt worse – both for the person with MS and their family. It can help if everyone in the family understands MS, so they can identify when it is the MS, and not something else, that has caused the problem.

Stress and anxiety

Stress is defined as anything that disturbs a person's emotional well-being, by creating tensions or strains. As MS is unpredictable and can bring about major physical, emotional, social and economic changes, it is understandable that living with the condition can be stressful. However, continued exposure to stress can lead to further emotional symptoms such as anxiety, and it is known that this is more common amongst people with MS than the general population. This anxiety can, in turn, cause physical symptoms such as headaches, palpitations, over-breathing (hyperventilation), increased blood pressure and muscle tension. Sometimes these physical symptoms may take the form of 'panic attacks'.

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) (In the UK) Guideline for MS, which sets out good practice for MS-related NHS healthcare in England and Wales, recommends that where a person is experiencing anxiety they should be offered specialist help. It says that for those with serious anxiety, psychologically based treatment should be given and, where appropriate, medication should be used.

Research into the possible relationships between stress, the onset of MS and relapses has produced conflicting results. But there is currently little evidence to suggest that stress causes MS, relapses or an increase in relapse rate.

Stress is, however, a reality of life regardless of whether you have MS or not. Sometimes families try to avoid stressing the person with MS so much that they cause further stress, anxiety and guilt. This does not help anyone. In a life led to the full, stress cannot be avoided. The best approach is to learn how to manage and cope with stress. Talking therapies can help with this.

Help with adapting psychologically to MS