How does MS affect your moods?
Mood changes are a common experience with MS, and you're not alone in dealing with them. Many people with MS describe their moods as unpredictable, changing rapidly from one day to the next or even throughout the day.
MS can cause several types of mood-related challenges:
Depression - This Show Full Answer
How does MS affect your moods?
Mood changes are a common experience with MS, and you're not alone in dealing with them. Many people with MS describe their moods as unpredictable, changing rapidly from one day to the next or even throughout the day.
MS can cause several types of mood-related challenges:
Depression - This is the most frequently reported symptom, occurring in nearly 50% of people with MS. Signs include persistent sadness, loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed, changes in sleep or appetite, and feelings of worthlessness or hopelessness lasting more than two weeks.
Mood swings - These involve periods of unusually intense emotions, including extreme happiness, irritability, or sadness. As a MyMSTeam member shared, "I often feel like I don't have a filter. I can't predict from one day to the next how my moods will be."
Anxiety - About 36% of people with MS experience anxiety disorders, which can include intense bouts of panic, fear, or worry that last longer than typical anxious feelings.
Pseudobulbar affect (PBA) - In rare cases, this causes involuntary emotional outbursts like sudden crying or laughing without an emotional trigger. Why does this happen?
MS affects the brain areas that produce and manage emotions. When myelin is stripped from nerves in these regions, it can directly impact your emotional regulation.
Other contributing factors include:
- Grief over changes in your life and abilities
- Stress from managing a chronic condition
- The physical and cognitive symptoms of MS itself
What can help?
Many people find relief through:
- Working with a psychologist who understands MS
- Antidepressant medications
- Mindfulness and stress management techniques
- Letting go of things outside your control
- Building a strong support network
As a MyMSTeam member shared about seeing a psychologist: "It was life-changing. I had 10 hour-long sessions with a professional who understood MS medically and emotionally."
If you're struggling with mood changes, talk to your neurologist. They can help you manage these symptoms or connect you with appropriate specialists.
April 17
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