b'Life with MSDDeeaalliinnggEEmmoottiioonnaallllyywwiitthhPPrrooggrreessssiivveeMMSSHHeeaalliinnggiinnvvoollvveessmmoorreetthhaannbbooddiieess,,pphhyyssiiccaallccaarreeBy Jaitrali JhanjharyaProgressive multiple sclerosis doesnt justThis is called living loss, mourning something change your bodyit reshapes your dreams,while you are still alive. your identity, your very sense of self.Many patients express that unpredictability Living with progressive MS is a quiet, ongoingis one of the most complex parts: never knowing negotiation with loss: loss of function, loss ofwhat function might be lost next, or when. independence, and, sometimes, loss of theAnxiety becomes a constant background noise, life you imagined. Unlike relapsing forms ofeven on good days. MS, progressive MS tends to follow a moreBeneath all that anger, frustration, and relentless course, leaving fewer windows forfatigueisadeep,rawsadnessthatrarely remission or physical recovery.nds language. Grief in progressive MS isnt Yet, far too often, the emotional side ofneat or linear. Its messy. It loops. It repeats. progressive MS remains an afterthought.And it deserves validation, not silence. Physical symptoms are addressed, but theThe silent struggle of caregive rs grief, fear, and loneliness that accompanyProgressive MS doesnt affect only the person them are left unspoken.diagnosed. It affects their entire ecosystem. As a psychotherapist who has walked thisCaregiversoftencarryimmenseinvisible road alongside patients and caregivers alike,burdens: I believe its time for new thinking where Watching a loved one slowly lose abilities. emotionalsurvivalisprioritizedjustas ercely as physical care. Because the truth is, Suppressing their grief out of guilt. healing isnt only about bodies, it is about Living with chronic exhaustion andhearts.emotional isolation. The invisible grief of progressive MS Many caregivers describe an overwhelming There is a particular kind of grief in progressivesenseofhelplessness.Watchingsomeone MSone that is repetitive and layered. Itsyou love struggle while feeling powerless to stop not a one-time loss. Its a slow, ongoing seriesit can be painful. The caregivers emotional of small goodbyes:world often oscillates between erce love andGoodbye to the ability to run.deep resentment, both natural, human reactions.Goodbye to independence.Yet, society often forgets to give caregivers aGoodbye to careers, hobbies, spontaneity.space to process their silent suffering. CaregiversSometimes, even goodbye to dreams youmental health must be recognized and supported, built your life around.not treated as an afterthought. msfocusmagazine.org 8'