Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 6831 msfocusmagazine.org • Set small goals and act on them, regardless of how you’re feeling emotionally. Sometimes, we wait to engage in activities until we are experiencing positive emotions. However, if we wait for a particular emotional state to motivate us to act, we may be waiting a long time. Set a small weekly goal for engaging in social activity and follow through with it, regardless of your emotional state. For instance, set a goal to call a friend and wish her “happy holidays” or accept one invitation to a social gathering. Setting and meeting small goals will give you a sense of accomplishment, making it more likely you’ll meet your next goal. You might even have some fun along the way. Additionally, when you set this goal, make a personal list of reasons why it’s important to you and refer to it whenever you feel unmotivated. • Change howyou think to improve howyou feel. Cognitive reframing is another useful coping skill that involves looking at a distressing or self-defeating thought from a new angle. For instance, you might feel sad or depressed when you think, “I can’t host dinner parties anymore.” Taking a different perspective, such as “I can still Coping Skills for Engaging in Social Activities Planning your social calendar allows you to select activities that will bring you and your loved ones the most enjoyment during the holidays. In addition, consider adopting one or more of the following coping strategies this year, and you may just surprise yourself and discover, or rediscover, your inner social butterfly. risk of depression, which can interfere with sticking to your treatment plan and negatively affect your health. Over time, social avoidance can lead to a reduced network of friends and family who would be able to provide needed support. On the other hand, the holidays may bring us into contact with family members and friends who haven’t been supportive or encouraging. In this case, it would be appropriate to limit the amount of time you spend with such individuals. Instead, explore how MS support groups and organizations are celebrating the holidays. These events not only offer an understanding environment, but alsoprovideopportunitiestomakenewfriends. GOALS REFRAMING Negative thought: Reframed thought: