Chasing the blues away
Depression strikes an estimated 47% to 54% of people with MS—but a new study suggests that you can lift your mood by taking positive actions.
Actions include:
- Saying “thank you” and meaning it
- Phoning a friend
- Visiting a friend
- Say something pleasant to someone who doesn’t expect it
- Crossing an item off your to-do list because you did it
- Learning something new
- Volunteering or agreeing to become a volunteer
- Going to the library and checking out a book to read
- Going shopping and buying something for yourself
- Taking a nap
- Pampering yourself with a manicure, massage or relaxing bath
“The Influence of Positive Experiences on Depression and Quality of Life in Persons with Multiple Sclerosis” is in The Journal of Holistic Nursing, V. 26, #1, March 2008, pp. 41-48.
Learn how to make medical decisions
A diagnosis of MS brings with it a mountain of information, many decisions to make—and many questions to ask. How to sort through it all? A new Society program called My Life, My MS, My Decisions takes you step-by-step through the process of making decisions about your medical care.
The program features a DVD and four online courses that cover the following topics:
- Teaming Up with Your Health-care Providers
- Navigating the Medication Maze
- Considering Clinical Trials
- Achieving Optimal Wellness
The DVD is also available separately if Internet access is unavailable.
My Life, My MS, My Decisions is partially funded by an unrestricted educational grant from Biogen Idec, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Genentech, EMD Serono/Pfizer Inc., and Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.
Treatment update
Betaseron only
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals launched a very thin (30-gauge) needle and a new autoinjector (BETAJECT LITE) in October. The new autoinjector replaces all previous autoinjectors for Betaseron. The use of any autoinjector other than this latest version may result in people not receiving their full dose of medication. Go to betaseron.com/thinner or call 800-788-1467 for more information and to request the new autoinjector.