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The Yin and Yang of MS: Love and Hate

Dianne Scott's avatar image

By Dianne Scott

2 min read

One day, while feeling especially reflective and pondering over the plethora of aspects that living with Multiple Sclerosis brings, I wondered how much of a challenge it’d be to ascertain if there were any parts of such a dire condition that I could find (personally) favorable. Though dubious of being successful for obvious reasons, the irony was that I, in fact, thought of several. This prompted further reflection and with amusement, I happened upon an idea that was there were two relative aspects of the same experience. There were opposite yet complementary relationships - favorable and unfavorable. What I discovered as pleasing to me are also displeasing.. what I like, I dislike too.. what I deem positive is also negative... my likes are dislikes as well and, what I love, I hate... the yin and yang.

My MS Yin and Yang

Five things I love about MS

  1. MS has made me recognize and appreciate the strength I possess
  2. MS has prompted me to stay readily prepared... always thinking steps ahead
  3. MS has afforded me the opportunity to express myself and allow my voice to reach many
  4. I’ve found several hobbies that I may not have discovered if still employed
  5. I love that I have assistive devices that do make some challenges due to MS, like mobility, less fatiguing

Five things I hate about MS

  1. You never know how strong you are until strong is the only choice you have... MS leaves me no choice
  2. MS has deprived me of the pleasure of spontaneity and full independence
  3. Sharing my challenges with MS sometimes makes me feel as if I am a ‘whiner’ or a complainer at times (And I am SO not!)
  4. I enjoyed, and was quite good at, my job. I looked forward to retiring when it was ‘my’ time and not an MS dictated time
  5. I hate that because of MS, I have a need to use any type of assistive devices

MS is the common tie

According to Chinese philosophy, everything contains Yin and Yang. Although they are totally different... opposite... in their individual qualities and nature, they are interdependent. Yin and Yang cannot exist without the other; they are never separate. MS is the common tie of the aforementioned ideas and without reflection, I may not even have recognized that there's a relationship between the two for me. Without hating one, I am unsure if I would find love in the other, or vice versa. The things that I see as propitious that stem from living with MS are also inauspicious; that which is up I also view as down, that which I recognize as enhancements in my life, I too consider troublesome. On a quiet, thoughtful day, while reflecting on the perils of living with this chronic disease, I discovered my own Yin and Yang for MS - love and hate.

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Editor’s Note: We are extremely saddened to say that on December 2nd, 2024, Dianne Scott passed away. Dianne’s advocacy efforts and writing continue to reach many. She will be deeply missed.

This article represents the opinions, thoughts, and experiences of the author; none of this content has been paid for by any advertiser. The MultipleSclerosis.net team does not recommend or endorse any products or treatments discussed herein. Learn more about how we maintain editorial integrity here.

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