Real Talk
Ask Ardra Anything: When Should I Use a Mobility Aid?
Blogger Ardra Shephard, tackles readers' questions about life with MS, and when it makes sense to use a wheelchair or other mobility devices.
June 29, 2022
Living with MS can be hard. Hear relatable stories from people who get it.
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Real Talk
MS Is Bad, but It’s Not the Worst Thing That Could Happen to Me
Everyone experiences tragedy, loss, illness or other difficulties in their lives. Comparing suffering doesn't usually help — except when it does.
January 31, 2023
Real Talk
Why Climate Change Is an Urgent Concern for People with MS
People with multiple sclerosis often have heat sensitivity, which can worsen existing symptoms or trigger new ones. When climate change results in more hot weather, people with MS can experience health consequences.
March 21, 2021
Real Talk
My Journey to Becoming a Chronic Illness Advocate on Social Media
Writer Nia G. discusses her journey to becoming a social media advocate after her chronic illness diagnoses.
July 19, 2022
Real Talk
We Need to Talk About Ableism and COVID-19
The issues that disabled and chronic condition communities face as a result of the pandemic are being ignored too easily.
March 23, 2022
Real Talk
Ask Ardra Anything: Why My New Year’s Resolutions Have Nothing to Do with MS
Health is only one component of happiness. I choose to focus my goals on things I can control.
December 01, 2022
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Real Talk
The Importance of Advocacy When You Live With MS
MS advocacy is about all of us working toward a common goal. And there are so many ways, large and small, to participate.
March 31, 2023
Real Talk
What the Overturning of Roe v. Wade Means for the Chronically Ill and Disabled Communities
The court’s decision affects all Americans, but disabled, chronically ill, and disadvantaged people will be disproportionately affected. They face healthcare inequities, poverty, and more.
July 18, 2022
Real Talk
I Have MS and I’m a Man. Here’s Why That Matters
Society expects men to just "tough it out," but that's not a helpful approach for physical or emotional pain associated with multiple sclerosis.
July 19, 2022
Real Talk
MS Representation in Pop Culture: What’s Wrong (and Right)
Even when their portrayal is imperfect, characters in TV, film, and books who live with MS raise awareness and give hope to real people living with the disease.
February 28, 2023
Real Talk
What I’ve Learned About Self-Advocacy When Living with a Chronic Condition
When living with a chronic condition or disability, finding and using your voice is a must.
June 13, 2022
Real Talk
What It’s Like Being Chronically Ill in the Time of Wellness
Unsolicited medical advice is exhausting — and sometimes even plain rude. The wellness industry needs to wake up to the realities of living with a chronic illness.
March 31, 2023
Real Talk
Why Summer Is the Season of Envy When You Have MS
Living with MS often means watching from the sidelines as others go about their lives. Sometimes that leads to envy. Here's how to overcome it.
July 27, 2022
Real Talk
8 Reasons Getting a Puppy Is One of the Best Things I’ve Done for My MS
Multiple sclerosis can suck some of the fun out of life, but dogs are pure joy.
August 10, 2020
Real Talk
How I Balance Advocacy and Privacy Living with a Chronic Condition
Some days, sharing about my life with MS feels useful and authentic. Other times, I'd rather keep the details to myself.
November 09, 2021
Real Talk
This Treatment Helped Me Walk Again with MS
The results weren't permanent, but I'll cherish the memory of regaining my mobility.
November 08, 2021
Real Talk
#FreeBritney: Tabloid Fodder or Disability Rights Issue?
Britney Spears’ legal battle sheds light on ableism and guardianship abuse.
July 16, 2021
Real Talk
Hiding an MS Diagnosis Is Way Too Common — Something Has to Change
Fear of discrimination and stigma causes a third of people to hide their MS diagnosis.
June 29, 2021
Real Talk
My MS Diagnosis Sent Me Down a Rabbit Hole of Miracle ‘Cure-Alls’
Modern-day purveyors of false hope are the snake oil merchants of old.
May 27, 2021
Real Talk
9 Ways Acute Illness Is Thought Of Differently Than Chronic Illness
Living with chronic illness has made me aware of the many ways that society views chronic illness differently than they view acute illness.
November 04, 2022
Real Talk
10 Outrageous Things People Have Actually Said to Me About My Chronic Illness
People with MS and other chronic illnesses hear outrageous comments like these all the time.
January 14, 2021
Real Talk
What I Want to Say When You Ask How I’m Doing with MS
"How are you?" is a simple question, but it can be hard to answer truthfully when you're in pain.
April 15, 2021
Real Talk
I Have a Chronic Condition. Here’s Why I Hate New Year’s Resolutions
The unpredictability of living with a chronic condition can make it hard to stick with your plans. One writer shares why this year, she's saving herself the pressure and avoiding unrealistic resolutions.
November 09, 2022
Real Talk
Why I Advocate: Elizabeth’s MS Story
The Bezzy MS community gave her something she never had — connections with other people with MS.
August 25, 2020
Real Talk
Why I Choose Positivity in the Face of Chronic Illness
My mantra, 'living a positive life while chronically ill,' feels more necessary now than it ever has.
September 08, 2020
Real Talk
How I Am Redefining What ‘Sick’ Looks Like for Black Women Living with Multiple Sclerosis
In everything I read after my MS diagnosis, Black women seemed to have been erased from the narrative.
July 28, 2020
Real Talk
MS Research Has Been Ignoring the Black Community. It’s Time That Changed
Wouldn’t it be great to know which treatments worked best for all of us living with MS?
July 23, 2020
Real Talk
Dear Able-Bodied Folks: Your COVID-19 Fear Is My Year-Round Reality
As COVID-19 invades our communities, able-bodied people are experiencing the same kind of fear that millions of people who live with compromised immune systems face all the time.
March 20, 2020
Real Talk
Ask Ardra Anything: Does Having MS Mean I Have to Give Up Looking Good?
Even on days when you feel weak or fatigued from MS, you can still look and feel great by using these shortcuts and hacks.
August 02, 2022
Real Talk
Having a Chronic Illness Helped Me Prepare for the Uncertainty of the Pandemic
Managing ulcerative colitis means accepting the unpredictability of life. That skill has become invaluable during the COVID-19 pandemic.
November 11, 2020
Real Talk
This Is What It’s Like Being a Teacher with MS During the Pandemic
COVID-19 is not only a physical danger, but it’s also made the negative parts of being a teacher seem even worse.
September 29, 2021
Real Talk
5 Lessons from the Pandemic That Promote Inclusivity
We can continue to learn from the pandemic and encourage inclusivity in our everyday practices.
July 19, 2022
Real Talk
10 Things I Wish I Knew When I Was Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis
From mental health and relationship challenges to finding the best treatment options, there's so much I wish I knew 20 years ago.
September 14, 2021
Real Talk
Getting the Bacon: Reflections on Life with MS During the Pandemic
Micah Love shares reflections on life with multiple sclerosis during the COVID-19 pandemic, plus National MS Society resources that can help.
April 15, 2021
Real Talk
Medical Gaslighting Is Real, and It May Have Happened to You
A patient’s word should be believed. You shouldn't need to fight to advocate for your health when you're feeling your worst.
December 02, 2021
Real Talk
What I Learned About Chronic Illness Coaches While Seeking Support for a New Diagnosis
Being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease left me feeling overwhelmed and alone. It was challenging to find the social and emotional support I needed.
December 02, 2021
Real Talk
‘Introducing, Selma Blair’ Hits Close to Home for the MS Community
At times, watching the documentary felt like tempting fate or touching the void of an unwanted future.
January 04, 2022
Real Talk
Ableist Language in Pop Culture and How It Affects People with Chronic Illness
Ableism and ableist language are all too common, especially in pop culture. Learn how to recognize this language and ways to be more mindful of the words you choose.
January 18, 2023
Real Talk
Am I Oversharing? 8 Tips for Navigating Social Media with a Chronic Illness
There are no perfect answers for how much to share and how much to hold back, but there are guidelines that might help you determine the right approach for you.
April 19, 2023
Real Talk
What I Wish I’d Known When I Was First Diagnosed with MS
If I'd been given a more complete picture of what to expect — the good and the bad — I'd have made different decisions.
March 22, 2023
Real Talk
Worth a Shot? Why I Decided to Stop Taking DMTs for My Progressive MS
It’s such a fraught, personal decision. But after more than two decades of failed treatments, my neurologist agreed they were no longer helping me.
March 24, 2023
Real Talk
Recognizing Signs of Medical Trauma When You Live with a Chronic Condition
Medical trauma is real but sometimes it can be hard to recognize. If you live with a chronic condition it is especially important to be aware of how traumatic medical scenarios can have lasting effects. If you have experienced medical trauma, it is important to know you are not alone.
June 24, 2022
Real Talk
An Open Letter to the Partner Who Lives This MS Life Alongside Me
We promised to love each other in sickness and in health. Then MS came along.
April 25, 2022
Real Talk
The Way We Treat the Undiagnosed Needs to Change
Being undiagnosed is an under-acknowledged stage of living with chronic physical or mental symptoms.
August 12, 2022
Real Talk
We Need to Talk More About Pain in MS
If we don't address it, pain can take a heavy toll on our lives.
September 02, 2022
Real Talk
How I Stopped Running — Because of MS and From MS
I've learned to grieve the loss of my physical abilities and attributes, and in the process have found so much more.
August 30, 2022
Real Talk
How I Overcame Compulsive Shopping to Cope with My Body Image
MS changed how I felt about my body. Buying clothes and makeup helped — until it didn't.
June 29, 2022
Real Talk
Talking with Friends About Money Can Be Awkward When Your Condition Limits How Much You Work
Being asked to chip in for food or gifts can be stressful, especially if a chronic illness restricts the hours you can work. These tips can help navigate awkward conversations with friends.
September 28, 2022
Real Talk
5 Things I Wish People Understood About Multiple Sclerosis
It would make life a lot easier if a few things about MS became common knowledge.
June 12, 2020
Real Talk
What I’d Tell Someone with a New MS Diagnosis
If you've just been diagnosed with MS, you may be feeling overwhelmed, confused, or alone. Here are some nuggets of wisdom to help you get through it.
December 17, 2020
Real Talk
How I’m Making Peace with the Never-Ending Pandemic
Those of us living with a chronic condition are used to navigating an unknown future.
February 17, 2022
Real Talk
Why I Advocate: Wendy’s MS Story
As an ambassador for the Bezzy MS community, Wendy Lerch offers the peer support she wishes she had when she was first diagnosed.
July 31, 2021
Real Talk
Living with Undiagnosed Chronic Pain Is Hard, But Please Don’t Give Up
When you live with undiagnosed pain, self-advocacy, hope, and resilience are key.
August 26, 2021
Real Talk
8 Things That Aren’t Helpful to Say to Someone with MS — and What to Say Instead
People often mean well, but words can harm. Instead of replies that sting and trivialize suffering, here's what to say when a friend or loved one tells you about their multiple sclerosis.
August 03, 2021
Real Talk
How Fatigue Changed My Mindset as a Disability Activist
Hustle culture and the pandemic made me hit a breaking point. I was exhausted, but being an activist made me want to fight on. Now, I live by a different mantra.
February 28, 2023