| This just happened to me on 3/1/08. I was reading a | | | | due to a lack of knowledge on the subject and the |
| book to my six year son about Lou Gehrig. Lou died | | | | stereotypical picture many people already have. |
| of ALS which is commonly known as Lou Gehrig's | | | | Another huge emotional blow is the impact that the |
| disease around the age of 37. As I read the pages I | | | | developing disease may have on life plans and |
| was overcome by emotions about Lou having ALS, | | | | direction. The ability to work may be affected |
| about my own multiple sclerosis and Lou dying at | | | | throwing future plans into disarray. This often |
| such a young age. Although I didn't cry tears were | | | | becomes an ever increasing reality as the disease |
| welling up in my eyes and my throat was getting | | | | progresses over time although it may take many |
| choked up. I didn't want my son to see me like this | | | | years before a person's ability to work is affected to |
| so I quickly finished the book and we went on to | | | | the point of having to give up employment. |
| Cat In The Hat. | | | | Other sources of emotional distress may result from |
| I don't know what it was but my emotions were | | | | the changes it is necessary to make to family life |
| suddenly out of whack. To think that a great | | | | such as switching roles within the family unit. An |
| ballplayer who was also a nice man succumbed to | | | | example would be from wage earner to house |
| ALS just didn't seem fair. But I realize there are alot | | | | person. Uncontrollable emotional outbursts are usually |
| of unfair things in this world and life goes on. But as | | | | the result of the disease process. |
| I've said before my emotions nowadays seem more | | | | Suddenly laughing for no apparent reason (even to |
| out of whack and things bother me more. Abuse of | | | | yourself) or suddenly bursting into tears are usually |
| women and children top that list. I also don't like to | | | | the result of disease activity. They tend to occur |
| hear about friends who get severe illness like cancer, | | | | with lesion formation in the areas of the brain which |
| diabetes, strokes, etc. | | | | are involved with emotion. This type of emotional |
| Part of the information that you see below came | | | | difficulty is known as emotional lability (severe mood |
| from the website I found this to be a excellent | | | | swings) or the pseudobulbar affect (uncontrollable |
| resource for information on multiple sclerosis. | | | | laughing/crying). |
| Emotional problems and difficulties with multiple | | | | I always considered MS to be purely physical but as |
| sclerosis are extremely common. This is unsurprising | | | | time moves on I realize that MS plays a part in the |
| considering the impact having multiple sclerosis can | | | | cognitive of a person's brain. I have memory |
| have in your life. Emotional problems may develop | | | | problems, some emotional issues and disinhibiton. |
| due to the disease itself and can also develop simply | | | | Disinhibition means a lack of control over I say to |
| as a result of becoming overwhelmed by the | | | | people. I've made some major faux pauxs in the last |
| implications of having multiple sclerosis and the | | | | couple of years. I guess my recent difficulty in |
| outlook for the future. | | | | reading to my son is to be expected. I spoke with a |
| Regardless of what age you are when multiple | | | | friend who has terminal cancer last week. He said he |
| sclerosis is diagnosed (average age of diagnosis is | | | | has crying jags and depression when he thinks of his |
| around 37 years of age), the emotional blows | | | | life and where he's now probably going. To sum all |
| inflicted are quite considerable. People usually find | | | | this up MS and other diseases can most definately |
| they become frightened (even if they don't admit it) | | | | have a profound impact on your emotions. |
| by the prospect of multiple sclerosis. In part, this is | | | | |