Feeling defeated right now...

[ruthr923]

I'm feeling very down right now...going through a MS flare with vision problems, right sided numbness and weakness and difficulty walking. To complicate things I fell down the stairs and hurt my L ankle. Fortunately I didn't break it but the sprain is extremely bad and I'm in an air cast. So now I am going to by laid up for several more days on top of the flare going on. My question is how do a lot of you make yourself feel better and not sink into that pit of despair during times like this?

[JBWInColorado]

I'm so sorry you're going through all this. I got on prozac STAT when I diagnosed because I knew depression wasn't far away. It makes things easier.

I also try to tell myself that This Too Shall Pass, and think I'll be feeling better by this time next week. And things do get better.

In the meantime, try getting your mind off your misery... escape! Listen to good music. I used to watch episodes of House because I so loved that show and it gave me something to concentrate on.
If you're gonna be laid up for a while - get DVDs of Breaking Bad and watch it from the 1st episode. Best TV show EVER. Pretty violent but if you can handle that, check it out.
I'm reading a book called The Cuckoo's Calling - written by JK Rowling, but it's not Harry Potter-ish, it's a murder mystery and I can't put it down.

So there's a few ideas... Take your mind somewhere else for a while.

[CarolRic]

I'm sorry that you are feeling so down. I try to look for the silver lining in everything. Sometimes it's so tarnished that it's hard to see but it's there.

I love JBWInColorado's advice about getting your mind off of things. It certainly does help.

Hope you feel better soon!

[KatieAgain]

Oh Darlin..not all flares are created equal. As you now know. It is really hard.

I started a flare in April and it spiraled into back to back flares. Took four General Neuros and it was not until a MS Specialist intervened, that I bounced out. In fact, I just came out of the flares a couple weeks ago. And I am enjoying life while I can and I am hoping that Tysabri will keep me stable. There was a time that I seriously thought I was going to go meet my maker...it was that serious.

When you have a flare like you are having now and it brings you down to your knees...it is hard, if not impossible not to have a pity party. I cried a lot...believe it or not, it helped. I also hugged my little dog who never left my side.

I did a ton of reading. I probably read 50 books this year. Nothing serious, lots of Fantasy and Science Fiction and a few historical romance novels. Also caught up on shows I never saw through Netflix. Previous poster talked about Breaking Bad...did that...it was great, so was Netflix new series Orange and Black.

One thing I did that helped I have a Florida Room, with a magnificent view and I watched the Sunset every night with my little dog. It was peaceful, serene and calmed me down.

I think what you are feeling is pretty natural. Here is to hoping the flare subsides quickly for you.

[aspen]

I'm so sorry. And it's frustrating when you already have the right side trouble to have also hurt your left ankle -- way more mobility limitation .

I've had similar issues (although I hurt my left knee BECAUSE of the right side weakness and gait issues) -- it's the feeling of uselessness that gets me.

Agree with above. Distraction. Try to hold on to "this too shall pass" as JBW said. I pray for other people to get my mind off me. (I get very tired of me during these times). I plan things for others (difficult to write down/type ideas, I know, and some day I really want a phone that has voice record capability). Oh yeah ... visit chat .

Thinking of you.

[mercadies25]

HUGS HUGS HUGS for you.

Time is what it takes.

I love the Florida room with the puppy. That would work for me.

I am on prozac among other things for the depression that comes and goes all the time just because. So anything that makes it worse is bad.

Good Luck to you!!!!!

Get better soon.

My sister always tells me "THIS TOO SHALL PASS"
I want to choke her when she says that. LOL


Try to get up and move any way possible.