Hi. So you’ve been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. I guess I’ll say, “welcome.” You’re now a part of a large community (2.3 million strong) of people from all walks of life and all stages and types of MS.

If you’re anything like me, you are probably reeling from your initial diagnosis. You are probably a combination of worried, confused, scared, stressed, and a little bit relieved to finally have answers to what has been going on with you. I had symptoms for 12 years, maybe more, before I was diagnosed. You probably have a similar story.

Deep Breath.

You are now a warrior. This came at you and hit you. It has probably been in you for a long time, longer than you’ve had symptoms. It’s a sucker punch. It’s strong. But guess what. You. Are. Stronger.

I say that with confidence. You are going to be okay, because you are going to make it okay. You may not be able to control what your body does to you, but you CAN control how you respond to it. You are in charge of you.

MS is a shitty disease. It is also a golden opportunity. What I mean by that is, without being diagnosed with MS, I would have never come to know myself as I do, to protect myself, learn what to value in life or how to really, truly, self-care. I may never have striven to create peace for myself, to search for serenity, to reach out for help, or to slow down enough to see beauty in the simple, good things. I also would have never met some of the most amazing individuals I have, which is the MS community.

MS is going to change you. It is your choice on if that change is for the better.

I’m not saying that you can’t break down, cry, scream, throw things – in fact, you probably should. (Don’t hurt anybody.) You have every right to be mad. You need to mourn. This diagnosis is massively unfair. You have done NOTHING to cause this. You have done NOTHING to deserve this. It is the assailant. You are the victim. You have the choice to turn yourself into a survivor.

Believe it or not, you still have control. You control how you live.

It’s time to fight.