b'Life with MSAAVViissiioonnffoorrYYoouurrFFuuttuurreeBy Malachy Bishop and Stuart RumrillThedecisiontoleavetheworkforce,forany leavework.Formanypeople,thisistherightreason,isalwaysstressful.Thedecisionto decision.However,oncetheyhavestoppedleavetheworkforcebecauseofdisabilitycan working,morethan80percentbelievebeparticularlydicultandisoftenassociated thattheyarestillabletowork,andabout75withfeelingsoflossandfearoftheunknown. percent of unemployed people with MSWorkisanimportantpartofonesidentity. wouldliketoreturntowork.Inotherwords,Inadditiontoeconomicsecurity,workprovides manyexperiencedandproductiveworkersstructureandroutine,motivation,andasense stop working prematurely and then ndofbelonging.Workisalsoanimportant themselves regretting the decision. Thesecontributortophysicalandmentalhealthand data highlight the importance of makingqualityoflife.Forindividualsdiagnosedwith thoughtfulandwell-informedcareerdecisions.MS,continuingemploymentisincreasingly What are the signals that its time toseenasameansofhealthpromotionand consider leaving the workforce?diseasemanagement.However,theonsetandprogressionofMScanmakecontinuing Oneoftherststepsinconsideringthetoworkincreasinglydicult. decisiontoleavetheworkforceshouldbetoAbout80percentofAmericanswithMSare remindyourselfthatthechoiceisyoursandworkingatdiagnosis,andwhilemostdonot yoursalone.Itiswisetogetopinionsandwanttostopworking,themajoritydisengage consultclosefriends,familymembers,fromtheworkforcebeforeretirementage. significantothers,andyourhealthcareUnfortunately,thedecisiontoleaveworkis professionals.Stillattheendofthedayitisoftenmadeearlyinthediseasecourse,inthe yourbody,yourmind,andyourjob,andyouabsenceofaninformeddecision-making willknowbetterthananybodyelsewhenandprocess,andatatimewhenthediagnosis ifitistimeforyoutostopworking.andexperienceofsymptomsmayoverwhelm Inthisarticle,itisemphasizedthat(1)workand overshadow ones beliefs about their canbeanimportantcontributortohealthandabilitytomaintainemployment.Themajority well-being,and(2)therearesupportsavailableof unemployed peoplewith MS (up to 80 tohelppeoplewithMSstayemployed.percentinsomestudies)madeachoiceto However,thereisalsoarighttimetostopmsfocusmagazine.org 26'