Sometimes something appears on your doorstep at just the right time. Call it serendipity, I guess. Stress has played a large role in my life lately, and as a writer I write what I know.

Stress and MS have been subjects that leap onto the pages of my work. I know I need to tame it, to make sense of its affect on my lingering exacerbation as it alters my quality of life. It's no fun to tango with it.

Learning how to put stress in its place is the most important work I can do right now. I need to incorporate stress reduction into my daily routine as part of my wellness plan. It's important for you, too, because stress can cause damage to your physical and emotional health while influencing your mood, well-being and behavior.

So when I was asked to participate in a webinar about stress and MS I jumped at the chance.

I was even more excited when I learned I'd be joining the amazing Megan Weigel, an advanced nurse practitioner and doctor of nursing practice (click here to read a prior post on Megan about her other passion as yoga instructor extraordinaire for MS patients.)

This webinar was developed in partnership with the International Organization of MS Nurses (IOMSN) the premier international organization focusing on the needs of nurses involved with MS care, education, research and advocacy. 

“Managing Stress and Multiple Sclerosis: We Can’t Always Avoid it So How Can We Better Control Our Stress Levels?” is a 30 minute audio and slideshow presentation that addresses the concerns of MS patients. Megan illustrates what stress is, how it affects us both positively and negatively, and what we can do to learn to live with it. I, as patient advocate, had an opportunity to ask Megan some key questions for our community. 

Here's a preview of what we discussed:

• What is stress?
• How does it affect my MS?
• How do I avoid stress?
• Can MS be caused or brought on by stress?
• What are the symptoms of chronic stress?
• Stress management: What works and what doesn’t
• What can you do to manage stress?
• The importance of exercise, yoga, rehabilitation, meditation (including helpful apps) and mindfulness in stress management
• Stopping bad habits such as binge eating, smoking and alcohol consumption
• Available resources for stress management

These valuable insights include the latest on traditional and non pharmacologic avenues to discover in your quest to regain the quality of life you deserve.

I learned a lot from Megan. Her expertise and enthusiasm, combined with the commitment of IOMSN to excellence in MS care, makes this a webinar you really need to hear.

Click here to begin listening and learning!

Also check out these other resources from IOMSN and Consortium of MS Centers (CMSC):

• International Journal of MS Care
• MS Perspectives: Practical Insights for Multiple Sclerosis Patients

NOTE: This program was supported by an educational grant from Sanofi Genzyme.