MS Affects Everyone
If it effects you, it effects me.
MS doesn't just effect the individual living with it. It effects everyone around them.
The individual is like a tree. Everyone in their life are the branches. Family, friends, spouses, coworkers, and neighbors all make up the tree. All are effected in one way or another by MS. That can be physically, mentally, or emotionally. Some branches will be responsible to for day to day living such as preparing meals, cleaning, bathing, dressing, household chores, yard work, etc. Some branches will be responsible to doctor appointments, dispensing medication, writing down notes, and providing information to the healthcare team. Some branches will be responsible for providing laughter, a listening ear, a non-judgmental mind, a shoulder to cry on, and providing love when needed the most. Some branches will help out every day, whiles other will help when needed. Then there are those who will assume all the responsibilities. Those branches become unspoken angels, unspoken heroes, and unspoken inspirations. Sometimes branches will break and people won't show up. That's ok. Other branches will carry the load. It just makes those other branches stronger.
The saying "it takes a village" couldn't ring more true in the life of someone with MS.
As the individual with MS, asking help from those branches shouldn't be shameful, even though it often is. Asking for help isn't a sign of weakness. It's a sign of strength. I believe it takes more strength and courage to raise your hand and say "I need help" than it does to sit in silence.
As the branches or caregiver, it also shouldn't be shameful or a sign of weakness to ask for help. A lot is put on your shoulders and sometimes that weight is too much to carry all by yourself. It's important to have "me" time and to ask for help when the weight is too heavy to carry.
To all the branches out there, keep doing what you're doing. Keep supporting your tree. Keep loving your tree. Be the sunshine your tree needs to flourish.
MS doesn't just effect the individual living with it. It effects everyone around them.
The individual is like a tree. Everyone in their life are the branches. Family, friends, spouses, coworkers, and neighbors all make up the tree. All are effected in one way or another by MS. That can be physically, mentally, or emotionally. Some branches will be responsible to for day to day living such as preparing meals, cleaning, bathing, dressing, household chores, yard work, etc. Some branches will be responsible to doctor appointments, dispensing medication, writing down notes, and providing information to the healthcare team. Some branches will be responsible for providing laughter, a listening ear, a non-judgmental mind, a shoulder to cry on, and providing love when needed the most. Some branches will help out every day, whiles other will help when needed. Then there are those who will assume all the responsibilities. Those branches become unspoken angels, unspoken heroes, and unspoken inspirations. Sometimes branches will break and people won't show up. That's ok. Other branches will carry the load. It just makes those other branches stronger.
The saying "it takes a village" couldn't ring more true in the life of someone with MS.
As the individual with MS, asking help from those branches shouldn't be shameful, even though it often is. Asking for help isn't a sign of weakness. It's a sign of strength. I believe it takes more strength and courage to raise your hand and say "I need help" than it does to sit in silence.
As the branches or caregiver, it also shouldn't be shameful or a sign of weakness to ask for help. A lot is put on your shoulders and sometimes that weight is too much to carry all by yourself. It's important to have "me" time and to ask for help when the weight is too heavy to carry.
To all the branches out there, keep doing what you're doing. Keep supporting your tree. Keep loving your tree. Be the sunshine your tree needs to flourish.
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