Connect with others who understand.

sign up log in
Resources
About MyMSTeam
Powered By

Multiple Sclerosis Awareness: How To Get Involved

Posted on March 01, 2022
View reactions
Article written by
Anika Brahmbhatt

If you’re living with multiple sclerosis (MS), you’re already aware of the impact the condition can have on your life — but chances are strong that other people in your orbit don’t know as much as they could about the disease. That’s why it’s important to raise awareness for the medical condition — particularly in March, which is Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month.

It can be hard when your friends and family don’t know what you’re going through. It can also feel difficult to say no to loved ones who don’t understand your situation. You might worry about how your relationships will be affected.

Raising awareness about MS is important so your friends, family, and acquaintances can better understand how to support you.

Start by Raising Your Own Awareness

Before you can create public awareness by sharing information with others, it’s a good idea to understand the specifics about MS. Learn more about MS’s causes, signs and symptoms, and treatment options.

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease of the brain and spinal cord, also referred to as the central nervous system or CNS. MS can be treated, but there is not yet a cure. Symptoms vary among people with MS, but motor and cognitive problems are among the most common. Most people with MS eventually develop some degree of disability. MS is very rarely fatal, and on average, people with MS have similar life spans as people without MS.

MS is an autoimmune disease. In other words, the damage from MS is caused by the body’s immune system attacking its own tissues. Specifically, the immune system attacks myelin, a fatty tissue that lines and insulates nerves, and sometimes attacks the nerves themselves. As myelin is destroyed and the nerves degenerate, signals become slower and less effective, and disability accumulates.

Share Awareness Resources

After you’re armed with information about MS, you can share it with others. The fastest and least expensive way for this kind of advocacy is through social media. You can post information about MS, share details about the condition, and join communities of other people who are also working to raise awareness about MS.

You can follow and share messages from the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can also check out messages from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

To ensure your messages on social media reach as many people as possible, consider using an appropriate MS-related hashtag, like #MultipleSclerosisAwareness or #MSAwarenessMonth. This way, your posts will be seen by more people who have the same interests, and they’re more likely to share and comment.

Social media helps raise awareness for the condition, and it also allows other people with MS to realize they aren’t alone. Joining an MS community on social media, such as MyMSTeam, can also help you connect with others.

Participate in Awareness Activities

Another way to raise awareness about MS is to participate in an activity dedicated to the cause. You can walk, run, bike or swim for MS, play bingo, participate in fundraising activities, or even create a unique event that works for your interests. You can help other people understand more about MS while having fun and raising money for the cause.

If you’re able, you can also donate (or encourage others to donate) to organizations like the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America to support MS advocacy and research.

In addition, remember to engage in self-care. It’s emotionally taxing to educate others about your lived experiences, so know your limits and accept when to put your mental well-being first.

Connect With Others Who Understand

On MyMSTeam, more than 181,000 people living with MS come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with the condition.

Share your MS journey in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.

Posted on March 01, 2022
View reactions
All updates must be accompanied by text or a picture.
Anika Brahmbhatt is an undergraduate student at Boston University, where she is pursuing a dual degree in media science and psychology. Learn more about her here.

Related articles

Medical emergencies can happen anytime, anywhere — at school or work or while traveling. Dependin...

3 Benefits of MS Medical Alert Bracelets

Medical emergencies can happen anytime, anywhere — at school or work or while traveling. Dependin...
Menopause can cause many uncomfortable symptoms. People with multiple sclerosis (MS) may wonder a...

MS and Menopause: 7 Things You Should Know

Menopause can cause many uncomfortable symptoms. People with multiple sclerosis (MS) may wonder a...
If multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms are making it difficult for you to keep up with the demands o...

When To Quit Working With MS vs. Taking a Medical Leave

If multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms are making it difficult for you to keep up with the demands o...
Multiple sclerosis (MS) advocate Brittany Quiroz writes online as “A Hot MS” to forge connection...

Tips for Keeping Your Cognition Sharp

Multiple sclerosis (MS) advocate Brittany Quiroz writes online as “A Hot MS” to forge connection...
Lea este artículo en españolWe all respond differently to information about our health. After lea...

Just Diagnosed With MS — Now What? 9 First Steps

Lea este artículo en españolWe all respond differently to information about our health. After lea...
Maintaining independence is a concern for many people with multiple sclerosis (MS). And everyone ...

6 Resources for Independent Living and Managing MS

Maintaining independence is a concern for many people with multiple sclerosis (MS). And everyone ...

Recent articles

Peppermint and chili peppers add flavor to your favorite foods, but did you know that they’re als...

Topical Treatments To Relieve MS Pain: What Works?

Peppermint and chili peppers add flavor to your favorite foods, but did you know that they’re als...
Multiple sclerosis (MS) and stiff-person syndrome (SPS) are both autoimmune diseases affecting th...

Is It MS or Stiff Person Syndrome? 9 Ways To Tell the Difference

Multiple sclerosis (MS) and stiff-person syndrome (SPS) are both autoimmune diseases affecting th...
With age comes wisdom, and if you’re lucky, it may also come with fewer multiple sclerosis (MS) r...

Is It Safe for Older People With MS To Stop Taking a DMT?

With age comes wisdom, and if you’re lucky, it may also come with fewer multiple sclerosis (MS) r...
When it comes to multiple sclerosis (MS), having the right doctors on your side is essential. Wit...

8 Doctors Who Treat MS: Which Specialist Handles Which Problem?

When it comes to multiple sclerosis (MS), having the right doctors on your side is essential. Wit...
You look in the mirror, and something’s different. One side of your face is drooping. The muscles...

Bell’s Palsy and MS: What’s the Connection?

You look in the mirror, and something’s different. One side of your face is drooping. The muscles...
If you’re living with multiple sclerosis (MS) and are experiencing new or worsening symptoms, you...

Is It Stroke or MS Symptoms? 5 Ways To Tell the Difference

If you’re living with multiple sclerosis (MS) and are experiencing new or worsening symptoms, you...
MyMSTeam My multiple sclerosis Team

Thank you for subscribing!

Become a member to get even more:

sign up for free

close