Is MS Fatigue Taking an Emotional Toll? Take the Quiz | MyMSTeam

Connect with others who understand.

sign up log in
Resources
About MyMSTeam
Powered By

Is MS Fatigue Taking an Emotional Toll? Take the Quiz

Medically reviewed by Amit M. Shelat, D.O. — Written by Joan Grossman
Updated on March 18, 2021

Fatigue and unexpected emotional changes are common symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS). A chronic condition, MS can cause relapsing or progressive symptoms in the central nervous system. Both fatigue and strong emotions can be caused by inflammatory changes and lesions in the brain, as well as nerve fiber damage.

Complications of MS — like sleep disorders, medication side effects, and depression — can also cause mood swings and emotionally draining fatigue.

How Does Fatigue Cause Emotional Challenges?

Fatigue and heightened emotions can impact quality of life and take a toll on relationships with friends and loved ones. MyMSTeam members frequently discuss their experiences of fatigue and the range of emotions that come with living with a chronic illness:

  • “I am having a particularly hard time with emotions, stress, and fatigue these days. Feeling anxious and frustrated.”
  • “Feeling the fatigue a lot, and emotions are very bad. I always try to keep positive, but it's not always that easy to fight.”
  • “Frustrated with my fatigue. My emotions are all over the place.”

Sometimes the connection between fatigue and difficult emotional states seems clear. But it may not always be obvious how fatigue affects you emotionally.

Take the Quiz

This short quiz was designed to help clarify how MS fatigue affects your emotional state. This is not a clinical quiz. Although it has no diagnostic value, it may provide insight into how fatigue affects you.

If you scored 3 or 4 on any item, fatigue may be taking a toll on your emotional well-being. You may want to discuss the impact of fatigue with your neurologist or other health care provider. They can recommend ways to help manage fatigue.

Communicating With Others About Fatigue

It can be frustrating and isolating when the people around you don’t understand your MS symptoms. It may take time, patience, and different approaches before a loved one or a co-worker really grasps how MS fatigue affects you and understands the ways they can support you.

Read tips and techniques for talking about MS fatigue with family, friends, and colleagues.

Join MyMSTeam for Support

On MyMSTeam, you can join a caring community of more than 160,000 people who share their experiences with MS and the emotional challenges of fatigue. Ask questions, share tips, and find people who understand what you are going through.

How does fatigue affect your emotions? How do fatigue and emotional challenges impact your life? Comment below about your experiences or join MyMSTeam and start a new conversation today.

Updated on March 18, 2021
All updates must be accompanied by text or a picture.

Become a Subscriber

Get the latest articles about multiple sclerosis sent to your inbox.

Amit M. Shelat, D.O. is a fellow of the American Academy of Neurology and the American College of Physicians. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Learn more about him here.
Joan Grossman is a freelance writer, filmmaker, and consultant based in Brooklyn, NY. Learn more about her here.

Related articles

People living with multiple sclerosis (MS) again face the choice of whether to get an updated mes...

MS Symptoms and COVID-19 Vaccines: Is There a Relapse Risk?

People living with multiple sclerosis (MS) again face the choice of whether to get an updated mes...
If you’re having flares more often, or if they leave you feeling significantly worse than before,...

Should You Be on an Advanced MS Treatment? 5 Symptoms To Look For

If you’re having flares more often, or if they leave you feeling significantly worse than before,...
If you have multiple sclerosis (MS), you may have found yourself struggling to find the right wor...

Swallowing and Speech Problems: 8 Ways Speech Therapy for MS Can Help

If you have multiple sclerosis (MS), you may have found yourself struggling to find the right wor...
Multiple sclerosis (MS) can cause a wide variety of symptoms — some of which you may be expecting...

Pseudobulbar Affect and MS: Uncontrollable Laughter, Crying, and More

Multiple sclerosis (MS) can cause a wide variety of symptoms — some of which you may be expecting...
As people age, they may find it more difficult than before to recall words quickly, walk long dis...

MS Symptoms in Seniors: Are New Symptoms From Age or MS?

As people age, they may find it more difficult than before to recall words quickly, walk long dis...
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition in which the immune system damages the central nervous sys...

Recognizing Symptoms of MS in Children or Teens

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition in which the immune system damages the central nervous sys...

Recent articles

If you are living with multiple sclerosis (MS), you have probably searched the internet for healt...

Reliable Health Websites: 6 Tips To Find Trustworthy MS Info Online

If you are living with multiple sclerosis (MS), you have probably searched the internet for healt...
Samantha Salvaggio Vanderman is a chronic illness coach, personal trainer, and behavior change s...

Overcome MS: 4 Tips for Choosing a Treatment

Samantha Salvaggio Vanderman is a chronic illness coach, personal trainer, and behavior change s...
In a recent survey, 81 percent of MyMSTeam members reported that multiple sclerosis (MS) negative...

Stress, Affording Treatment, and Quality of Life With MS: See Survey Results

In a recent survey, 81 percent of MyMSTeam members reported that multiple sclerosis (MS) negative...
This is a short guided meditation by Dr. Christiane Wolf on self-kindness, which gives you more s...

Self-Kindness When Struggling: 6-Minute Guided Meditation

This is a short guided meditation by Dr. Christiane Wolf on self-kindness, which gives you more s...
YogaVista.tv and MyMSTeam have partnered to bring you these mini-lessons or "yoga snacks."

Easy Movement Videos for People With MS

YogaVista.tv and MyMSTeam have partnered to bring you these mini-lessons or "yoga snacks."
MyMSTeam My multiple sclerosis Team

Thank you for subscribing!

Become a member to get even more:

sign up for free

close