Change is Inevitable. How We Respond is Not.

I have PPMS. At last, after 15 years I have a proactive neurologist. I'm now doing hydrotherapy, physiotherapy, and learning more about pacing myself. Until now I've had to do all my own research, and not found consistent information. As I also have a head injury (resulting in a truly awful long-term memory problem) and major depression, MS was just another challenge. REALLY, GOD? I am not up for more challenges.

The key to survival

What my head injury taught me was that adaptation is the key to survival. Unfortunately, those who are the least able to adapt are always expected to adapt the most. So, adapting to the slow downward progression of MS is just another challenge. I hate change as it means I have to learn ANOTHER new thing. My memory makes this difficult. However, I am so used to expecting change that I have learned not to stress about it. It is not worth it.
Stress makes my memory worse, my ms worse and my depression worse.

What gets me through it all

So I now respond by thinking of my gorgeous English Mastiff, HODOR, who is a moron but who is so gentle and good-natured that I would not want him any other way. I have adapted my expectations of him. I have adapted my expectations of myself.

Sage advice

As a friend said, "adjust your standards to match your reality".
Things will change again. They always do. I will just have to rise up to the challenge, adjust my expectations and standards accordingly, adapt, and continue to try and build up my muscles. I have just learned that the more muscle we have, the more energy we have (according to my new, wonderful MS physio.) So, despite it being exhausting, my new goal is to build up my leg and arm muscle bulk. Watch this space!!! Alison K