What are some ways to manage symptoms of depression and anxiety?

Change your routine. Shower, groom, and get out of the house if you've been shut in. Talk to someone you can trust to give support and understanding. Watch or read something that will make you laugh and forget your feelings for a few minutes. Seek out professional help or call an MS organization's hotline.

I experienced depression for years before being diagnosed with MS. It was probably my first symptom of MS. In recent years, I’ve started to experience more anxiety. The first step in managing these symptoms is to mention them to your doctor. There are medications that can help and since many of them work in different ways, if one medication doesn’t seem to help, another one might. The second thing I personally recommend is cognitive behavioral therapy, or talk therapy, I worked with a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), but there are many different types of professionals who are skilled in counseling and psychotherapy. It’s important to remember that seeking help is not a sign of weakness, it is a sign of strength.

Depression and Anxiety are big problems for those of us with MS. I cannot recommend enough that we should consider seeing a counselor or psychiatrist. Sometimes just talking to a professional on a regular basis can be a massive help. Depression and anxiety are legitimate symptoms of MS, in addition to the regular feelings you may experience with getting a disease, they should be treated as you would any symptom. You'd probably talk to a doctor about your fatigue or numbness right? It's the same thing, another symptom you should address. There can be some stigma about depression but I do think that is finally starting to lessen. I talk a little more about all this here: https://multiplesclerosis.net/living-with-ms/its-time-to-get-real-about-depression-and-suicide/

Hi. Managing depression while dealing with a chronic condition like MS can be a task! First off, know you are not alone. It is not unusual for an individual with MS to experience bouts of depression. But, just like you treat and manage your MS, it is very important to treat the depression as well. While members of our community have found a variety of methods for dealing with depression, like exercise, journaling, therapy, or medication; you will have to find what works best for you and your situation. You have already taken a step in that direction by reaching out here! This information from our editorial team discusses depression and some different methods of treatment -- https://multiplesclerosis.net/symptoms/depression/. Thank you for reaching out and know you are welcome here anytime. Best, Erin, MultipleSclerosis.net Team Member.