Relax, RELAPSE, Reset
Living with MS has a way of changing how you see things. At least, that’s been my experience. If you’re reading the title, you’re probably thinking: Relax, Relapse, Reset? How do you relax and reset even fit with relapse? I’ll be honest with you because that’s what we’re here for, right? Sometimes, it feels like everything but relaxing. So, where’s the reset?
The thing is, living with relapsing-remitting MS means learning to expect the unexpected at any given moment. If you’re anything like me, unpredictability goes against everything you believe in. I’m a girl who loves structure and organization with a hint of spontaneity. MS is everything but that.
Sometimes, life feels almost normal and I use normal loosely. What is normal anyway? What I mean is, energy is steady, symptoms are quiet, and you can move through your day without much thought. Those are the moments when you get to relax. You can breathe, show up fully, and even forget, for a little while, that MS is there.
Then, almost without warning, a flare shows up. Fatigue, pain, or new symptoms remind you that MS hasn’t disappeared, it was just giving you a moment to breathe. Relapsing-remitting MS is disruptive physically, emotionally, and mentally. The sense of normal you were enjoying feels fragile, and it’s easy to get frustrated or discouraged. This is where the relapse comes in. It’s a reminder that resilience isn’t about perfection or control. It’s about showing up for yourself even when it’s hard.
I don’t want to say MS is a gift because we can all agree it is everything but that. With that being said, MS has truly taught me the power of the pivot. That’s where the reset comes in. MS isn’t the end of the world, even when it feels like it.
Even if your journey with MS has changed over time, whether relapsing-remitting or progressive, it doesn’t mean your potential has. The rhythm of your body may shift, and your days may look different, but you can still lean into life fully, in your own way. Resetting isn’t about returning to what you once were. It’s about finding ways to show up for yourself and your life, to pursue the things that matter, to move, create, and live with intention. Acknowledging your presence, your effort, and your growth is part of living, not just coping.
MS is part of your story, but it doesn’t define the story. Leaning into who you are fully, your passions, your dreams, and your curiosity, is how you continue to write your life. Relax, Relapse, Reset. Every cycle is an invitation to honor yourself, embrace possibility, and keep creating a life that feels expansive, joyful, and yours.
