Social support key for MS patients?

Blessings2You · 03-22-2012, 05:54 PM

This quote from our local news (WCAX):

""Doctors fight MS with more than drugs. Researchers at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center say mental health counseling helps, too.

"What we are finding is that elements of social support and environmental modification appear to have a lot more affect on disability and ability to cope with the disease than was previously thought. In the past, we thought the disease severity was one of the only predictors of disability. But we are finding that the social and environmental aspects could be just as important and in some cases more important," said Brant Oliver of DHMC.""

I've read it over a few times (plus listened to what else he said--he's a nurse practitioner, I believe) and agree totally that "social support...(has) a lot more affect on...ability to cope with the disease."

I'm concerned that people listening to that short blurb, only a few seconds long, are going to HEAR that it's mostly in our minds and that mental counseling would solve the problem. I know that's not what he SAID, but I'm already predicting I'll be explaining this.

Site Navigation

NeuroTalk Online Support Groups

Social support key for MS patients?

NeuroTalk Forums