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Relationships

MS enriches relationships and brings people closer together.

Damian (left)
Diagnosed in 2015

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Dating and MS

Learn strategies for navigating the dating world after a diagnosis of MS.

Overview

Important relationships take effort and energy and come in many different forms—intimate, parenting, sibling, friendships, collegial, etc. Figuring out how to make room for MS in your personal and professional relationships without giving it more time, attention, and energy than it really needs is key.

Deciding to disclose …or not

Telling others about your MS may be the first thing you want to do — or the last. No two people feel exactly the same about disclosing their MS to others. Keeping in mind that once the information is out there, you can’t take it back, the key is figuring out when disclosure is in your best interest and when it is not.

Keeping balance in your relationship

When one person in a couple is affected by MS, the other person lives with it as well. To keep your relationship healthy and balanced, it’s important to make sure that both of you stay on the giving and receiving end of the relationship, in spite of whatever changes MS may bring. Learn how to manage MS as team and enhance your communication and intimacy.

Parenting when you have MS

Women and men with MS can be successful parents of happy, healthy children. Learn the up-to-date findings about the impact of MS on conception, pregnancy, delivery and breastfeeding, and the impact of childbearing on MS.

Kids tend to worry when they know something’s up — even if Mom or Dad has no visible symptoms. Read more about parenting (including video), get some hints about how and when to begin talking about MS with your children.

Caring for someone else (and yourself!)

Caring for someone with a chronic illness like MS can be deeply satisfying. Spouses and partners, family, and friends can be drawn more closely together by their shared concerns and collaborative efforts. But caregiving (.pdf) can also be physically and emotionally exhausting, particularly for the primary caregiver. Remember that your own health and well-being is essential to your ability to care for someone else. Read more about carepartners and access resources.

Find an MS care provider

The National MS Society’s Partners in MS Care program connects you to local health care providers and medical facilities that have demonstrated exceptional care, knowledge and expertise in treating patients with MS. All partners, whether they are a neurologist or social worker, have a strong relationship with the Society and connect their patients to the information, resources and support they need to live their best lives with MS. Find a Partner in MS Care.

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