Emotional and behavioral therapy for patients with MS

The relationship between mental health and chronic conditions like multiple sclerosis (MS) is complex and may seem overwhelming. But the Norton Neuroscience Institute is expanding its work to address the common stress and mental health problems associated with treating MS. Norton Neuroscience Institute provides comprehensive care for MS patients, including behavioral health services.

MS and stress

MS is accompanied by physical and emotional symptoms, which vary from person to person. These symptoms can affect any aspect of your life and are often difficult to manage. Common responses to MS are grief, stress, adjustment, depression, anxiety, and self-isolation.

“We know that stress is bad for the body,” said Bryan Davis, Psy.D., a clinical health psychologist at the Norton Neuroscience Institute. Recent research has shown that stress exacerbates MS-related brain lesions.

“As humans, we have become very good at responding to stress and anxiety as a form of protection from a perceived threat,” said Dr. Davis. If the fight or flight / sympathetic system does not shut down, the body depletes physical and mental resources while it continues to work to protect itself. Because stress makes MS symptoms worse, it is important to manage both the emotional and physical symptoms of MS as they make up the bigger picture of your health. All aspects of your life contribute to your overall health, mood, and quality of life.

Your MS / Behavioral Health Care Team

Norton Neuroscience Institute assembles a team of professionals to meet your needs, including behavioralists, neurologists, social workers, and other specialists. This team creates a care plan with you at the center and works hard to provide you with the best care possible.

“The first thing we do is get to know you,” said Dr. Davis. “We use screening tools to determine your levels of depression, anxiety, and physical symptoms.”

It is important to build a strong working relationship and ask you to be the expert on your experience. By tracking your symptoms and speaking to you, the team can customize your treatment.

Mental health treatments for patients with MS

“There are many ways to address all of your needs and we will examine what works best for you,” said Dr. Davis.

Norton Neuroscience Institute Resource Center

The Norton Neuroscience Institute Resource Center in St. Matthews provides assistance with the daily challenges of living with a neurological disorder. Part of the Norton Neuroscience Institute’s goal is to take care of the whole person, not just the condition.

Learn more

One of the core pieces of behavioral health at the Norton Neuroscience Institute is a four-session stress management program. Patients meet with providers once a month to learn and practice breathing techniques, cognitive behavioral therapy tools, mindfulness, and more. Each session builds on the previous one.

“We have seen significant positive results in our patients,” said Dr. Davis. “People improve their own symptoms with mindfulness and breathing exercises.”

Additional offers are:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Grief therapy
• coping with stress
• Support groups
• Individual therapy
• Social media groups
• Drug management

Wellness and MS

In addition to clinical therapies and breathing techniques, the other part of this treatment approach involves general wellbeing.

“That means eating a healthy diet, getting active, getting better sleep, and connecting with something deeper, be it nature, a religious belief, or something else,” said Dr. Davis. “Together we want to increase awareness of the extent of stressors and develop skills to communicate with our body in a way that makes life more practicable.”

This could mean building skills to develop and maintain relaxing habits.

Connecting with others is also critical to wellbeing. This can be in person or electronically like Zoom or FaceTime.

“It doesn’t have to be a huge group of a hundred people,” said Dr. Davis. “But a good support system that you perceive to be helpful is important.”

source https://dailyhealthynews.ca/emotional-and-behavioral-therapy-for-patients-with-ms/