Best Stress Relievers For MS

Hi . Divorce is stressful at any point in a marriage, but 22 years is a long time. My heart goes out to you. I was searching our archives for articles about stress that might help when I came across a response from , one of our veteran moderators, that seems perfect for your situation. Erin was responding to similar concerns from another member who was going through a divorce after a decades-long marriage. Erin's comparison to the grief and stress we experience of death of a loved one seemed so spot on. I felt the most helpful thing I could do for you would be to share it.
So here is Erin's response:


"First off, I am sorry you are dealing with a divorce. Even if it's the best choice for a couple, that really doesn't make it any less painful.

I do hope you have a support system to be there for you during these days of adjusting to a new life. I wanted to share an article with you specifically geared towards taking care of yourself after you lose a loved one. Now, as someone with some personal experience with divorce, I know many people liken the end of a marriage to a sort of death and you can treat it as such. So, I hope these tips are helpful for you -- https://multiplesclerosis.net/living-with-ms/six-ways-help-manage-grief-losing-loved-one/.

Divorce *is* a lot like death. You should be allowed to grieve at your own pace and practice self care to maintain your health. Here is another piece on managing stress with MS that might have some good suggestions to consider -- https://multiplesclerosis.net/living-with-ms/7-ways-to-fight-stress-and-anxiety/.

Basically, don't be afraid to take care of yourself as best you can and lean on those who care about you. Thank you for reaching out and I hope you have many, many better days ahead!"



I hope this helps and that you will lean on those who love you. To physically relax yourself on the worst days, you might want to consider meditation. Meditation, even for just a few minutes, can help change your physical reactions to stress and, in doing so, possibly reduce your MS symptoms. There are some excellent meditation phone apps with free trials you can try. Here is a wonderful video on guided meditations that you might also find helpful: https://multiplesclerosis.net/video/guided-meditation.


Please know we are here for you whenever you need support or a place to vent as you go through this huge change in your life. Thinking of you and sending lots of gentle hugs your way. - Lori (Team Member)