Mind your health: anxiety, depression, and multiple sclerosis
Learning how your mind works and how to work with your mind helps you realize how much power you have.
Transcript
Learning how your mind works and learning how to work with your mind helps you realize how much power you actually have, especially when it comes to chronic disease management.
[MUSIC PLAYING] Mental health is critical to our whole body health. And it's especially important for anyone
dealing with chronic conditions. Yeah. I think often, we've spent so much time separating the mind from the body, you know, it's like taking care of physical things,
taking care of mental things. We really can't separate the two. It's really the whole person, the whole human. Multiple Sclerosis, or MS, can be
a physically and mentally debilitating disease, which can make managing mental health almost its own symptom.
You know, studies have shown that 95% of patients are associated with psychiatric comorbidities, most commonly
depression and anxiety. You know, we've heard from a few MS patients who've said things like, "One of the major symptoms of my neurological issues
is forgetfulness and lack of executive functioning." Others have said, "When I focus on mindfulness, it helps me feel better to exercise,
and thus, helps my body feel better." So Dr. Judd, can you talk to us a bit more about how exactly mental health can affect MS?
Depression and anxiety among MS patients can affect the manifestation of MS symptoms, which may then manifest depression and anxiety in return.
One study found that MS patients with brain lesions were more depressed than patients with lesions only on the spinal cord. Depression and anxiety can also stem from MS for other reasons.
For example, feeling frustrated or feelings of hopelessness over the disease can lead to anxiety and depression. So Dr. Judd, what would you recommend for MS patients
out there that are looking to manage their mental health? Consult a health care provider or a mental health professional to get a personalized treatment plan.
Therapy is a wonderful resource, and there are many types of therapy out there to try. For example, behavioral therapy and exposure exercises
can help build confidence and tolerance. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a form of talk therapy that can help you restructure your negative thoughts.
CBT may help you find more effective ways of responding to your symptoms. In fact, research suggests that CBT reduces anxiety,
depression, and stress. Also, mindfulness training can be helpful. A systematic review of mindfulness-based interventions
for MS showed that in three different studies, all studies reported statistically significant beneficial effects related to quality of life.
Navigating these conditions can seem daunting and take a toll on the body and mind. Be sure to reach out to your health care provider
to help manage and ease your symptoms. [AUDIO LOGO]
living with multiple sclerosis
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