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
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.