In this month’s self-management series, we look at positive thinking and challenging negative thoughts.
Spring and Easter are traditionally associated with hope, positivity and new beginnings. Some people with MS can find staying positive a real challenge – the “Societal Costs of MS” report found that approximately 38% of people with MS had been treated for depression and/or anxiety since the onset of MS.
If you feel you are suffering from depression or anxiety, you should talk to your GP for further advice. However, there are also things we can all do to try and maintain a positive outlook and stop ourselves from getting trapped in cycles of negative thoughts.
This article from Everyday Health lists 8 ways to stay positive with multiple sclerosis
The Living Like You blog has this to say about positive thinking
Negative ‘self-talk’ (how we talk to ourselves and think about various aspects of our lives) can often take over when you are in a difficult situation. This article talks about how we can challenge negative and damaging self-talk
Further reading
February: Personal Relationships and MS