Counselling is also available to other members of the family and also to carers.
| MS symptoms can change and it is important to know that expert help is near to hand. There is a private room available to ensure confidentiality. |
|
Counselling is also available to other members of the family and also to carers. |
In the lives of most of us there are times when we feel
in need of help. Sometimes the cause of these situations seems fairly clear
and we know where to turn for assistance, but at other times our problems
are difficult to understand and we find no answer from our own resources.
Counselling can help in such situations
by providing a safe, containing environment where you can express and explore
different feelings and thoughts in complete confidence. It offers an opportunity
for you to explore what it means for you to live with MS and look at different
ways of working towards living in a more satisfying and resourceful way.
Experience has shown that MS can
be positively affected by good emotional health. Mind and body are inseparable,
what affects one invariably affects the other. It is therefore equally important
to provide help and support for the emotional aspects of MS as for the physical
effects and the symptoms.
It is normal with MS to experience
strong emotional reactions. Its existence and symptoms may feel so intrusive
and frightening that the only relief is to express what it is like, yet
talking about it as much as is needed is sometimes difficult within the
family. An impartial outsider can be a better source of support.
MS can rouse feelings of anger, bitterness,
fear and sadness. Anger is a natural reaction when you are frustrated at
not being able to do the things you used to do so easily. It does take time
to adjust to limitations, and it takes time too to find new ways round the
blocks. It is only by venting the frustration instead of bottling it up
that it can be channelled into more constructive outlets to help realise
your potential. Inevitably relationships at home, at work and socially will
need to be appraised. Through counselling, even if your body does not always
function the way you would like, you can begin to grow as a person looking
for options, experimenting, always moving on.
Counselling at the Centre involves
meeting with the same counsellor regularly for as long as it continues to
be helpful. The sessions are of one hour each and are open to those with
MS, their family and their carers.
Marilyn King