Understanding Depression
And now a word about depression – which is very common in MS even without the stress of the holidays. Remember I said that grief is normal and healthy? Well, depression isn’t. Depression doesn’t ebb and flow like grief; it comes and stays like an unbearable blanket of painful emptiness. As much a part of the disease process in MS as it is a reaction to its challenges, depression is a symptom of MS that deserves prompt diagnosis and treatment.
If you find that your mood has tanked, leaving you feeling sad or irritable most of every day for a few weeks, accompanied by a loss of interest in things that used to engage you, changes in your sleep patterns and/or eating habits, or thoughts about hurting yourself or suicide, let your healthcare provider know about it. Depression is very treatable. Getting a grip on your mood will make life – and the holidays – feel much easier to manage.
Diagnosing & Treating Depression
So if the holiday blues are grabbing you more than the holiday spirit, don’t hesitate to get the help you need – from family, friends, or a qualified mental health professional. And if you’ve found some good strategies to manage – and enjoy – the holidays, please share them! You can also join the conversation about surviving the holidays
here.
Rosalind Kalb, PhD
Rosalind Kalb, PhD is Vice President of Clinical Care at the National MS Society, developing and providing materials, tools, and consultation services for healthcare professionals. As a clinical psychologist in private practice, Dr. Kalb provided individual and family therapy for people living with MS for more than 25 years. She is the author of the National MS Society’s
Knowledge is Power series for individuals newly diagnosed with MS and senior author of
Multiple Sclerosis for Dummies.
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