Mood & Cognition in MS: [What you can do]

The sad thing… without an MRI to confirm, all of these symptoms are just chalked up to a bad attitude or being a bad person

This video is literally bringing me to tears, especially the woman who’s discussing cognition. No one has ever understood what I’m trying to say when I’ve explained it almost exactly as she has. No one understands the exhaustion and the fatigue; where sometimes you don’t even know if you’ll make it through your shower or through the store. People think you’re crazy when you’re constantly anxious or when you are alarmed at strange skin irritations with certain temperatures. Im Cuban (well, I was born in NJ) and Cubans always think you’re a hypochondriac. However, no one knows you the way you know yourself. I used to teach Psychology at a college level. Honestly, I don’t think I’m capable anymore; both cognitively and energy-wise. I’m not diagnosed, but it is a suspicion based on MRI and symptoms. My first appointment with a neurologist is in a few days and I’m scared of sounding crazy.

A family member at an ms patient must have unlimited patience. I love my mom no matter what.

I'm cherishing every moment now after being in the bed for a year. Out of bed 2 months now and I do not miss it. I still have my symptoms physically and cognitively, the only difference is my embracing them and doing what I am able to do and coming up with new ways of achieving what I want to do whereas before I was not very optimistic. I was diagnosed a little over a year ago, and during my down time I found myself. MS affects me but it will not define me. Hugs to all and thank you for this video..

I always thought I was slow. I really struggle to retain new information and I can NEVER tell a story I heard without having to go back because I missed things. I have all of these issues in this video and I suspected it was related to the ms, glad this is validation.

I hate when people will say oh ya that happens to me to its just us getting old

I've always struggles with mood changes and depression. For quite a while I suspected I had bi-polar disorder but deep down I knew that wasn't right. I blamed my depression on my situation outside of MS and never contemplated that it was a symptom of something bigger. I'm also incredibly forgetful and absolutely struggle with computing new information. I think for many of us we become extremely frustrated with ourselves because we can't do what we once did and that's why we get depressed and angry, not to mention the struggle of being in physical pain and feeling numb almost everyday.

What i'm tired of is constantly having to explain things, explain why I am this way when people clearly have access to knowing that MS patients are like this. The strain of relationships is because I am tired of people not understanding that i'm having issues.

I have M.S. it does take longer to absorb or retain information. But it can be done, take a lot of notes. This disease changes your life. It can be done.

My college degree is in speech communication; not to toot my horn, but I thought I was a decent public speaker; I also liked to act. In the three years since my diagnosis I witnessed severe erosion of my abilities and find myself reserved to communicate with others. Thanks for sharing this info.

This is an eye opening presentation of the evolution of symptoms of MS.

I have severe distress, anxiety and depression - even the MS Neurology department think it's just all mental - they think my depression is all in my head - no one seems to get it. I can't focus and it's harder and harder for me to keep up with cognition and learning new information.

Mood and cognition difficulties can sure test a marriage during this quarantine...thank God for earbuds and a patient husband and an excellent care team! And pasta lol

This made me cry. Everything I've been struggling with got brought up here.

Its interesting listening to the man at 1.12 speaking. I am in the early stages of my MS journey. I sometimes speak like him and have swallowing problems. I have never heard someone else speak with MS that had speech problems so it was just useful hearing him.

I was confirmed to have MS less than a week ago. I showed this video to my loved ones to help them understand what is happening to me and I find it to be really comprehensive and helpful, thank you for this! I am I am wishing everyone all the best 🙏🏾💛🙏🏾

I REALLY WISH MY LOVED ONES WOULD WATCH THIS AND UNDERSTAND AND ACTUALLY SHOW SOME INTEREST IN WHAT IM GOING THRU.

Fantastic video. Until now I thought I was about brain dead. Leaving tasks in the middle, constantly losing and forgetting things and those 1 to 3 trips back into the house after trying to leave to retrieve things. Oh and not recognizing people I was just with. I almost forgot 😀 picking things out of. A group like at the grocery store. I feel much better knowing much of my famous absentmindism (is that even a word? It is now.

Okay... so every person is different, and people truly handle it differently. For me 10 years MS, it motivates me. My anger/frustration is put into mainly productive actions. I was told I would be in a wheelchair upon diagnosis... thankfully still walking. I deal with many of the issues pointed out.... Take advantage of the many opportunities MS Society offers. Life isn’t perfect nor easy.... You just have to figure out a way to work with what you are given.

Nobody listens or takes my cognitive issues seriously. I feel like im going crazy.