From educating yourself on MS to managing your finances, this guide provides the resources you need to navigate your new MS diagnosis — straight from the professionals.
If you’ve recently received a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS), you may feel overwhelmed, sad, angry, shocked, in disbelief, or even in denial.
At the same time, you may feel relieved to finally make sense of your symptoms. Rest assured that whatever you’re feeling, it’s completely valid, and you won’t have to go through this alone — 2.8 million people worldwide have MS.
“Fear and anxiety after diagnosis can make you want to withdraw or hide,” says clinical psychologist Rosalind Kalb, PhD, vice president of the Professional Resource Center of the National MS Society.
“And while that may be appropriate during those first few days or weeks, it’s reaching out for resources, assistance, and support that will be incredibly valuable, helping you to live a full, meaningful life,” she says.
Healthline recently hosted a roundtable discussion called “The MS Handbook I Wish I’d Had” featuring clinical psychologist Tiffany Taft, PsyD, who specializes in chronic disease, and participants who have MS — David Bexfield, Matthew Cavallo, Fred Joseph, and Lina Light — to learn more about what those who are newly diagnosed need to know.
We spoke with them, as well as other medical professionals, to deliver the critical advice and assurance you need right now.