How to build better habits with dietitian Leif Lagesen

The MS Boost: MS diagnosis and trauma – the unspoken shadow to chronic conditions

“I do think it's being talked about more now, and I think it's really important for people to be seeing that there's no shame in having a trauma response to pain, and it's very treatable, trauma is very treatable. But the first step to treating it, of course, is to recognise like, ‘Oh, I think I'm having a traumatic response to my illness, my diagnosis etcetera.’ ”

In this episode of the MS Boost, psychotherapist Katie Willard Virant discusses the impact of a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) and how it can be a source of trauma for some people . We discuss how the shock of receiving a chronic illness diagnosis can cause long-lasting trauma, affecting peoples’ perceptions of themselves and their interactions with the healthcare system. Katie emphasises the importance of recognizing these trauma responses, such as fear, dissociation, and anxiety, as legitimate and treatable conditions.

We also touch on the significance of healthcare professionals validating people' experiences, the role of social support and trust, and the potential for post-traumatic growth. Katie offers insights into therapy as a tool for processing trauma and strategies to help people who may feel stuck in the trauma of diagnosis.

This episode provides a deep dive into the emotional complexities of receiving a diagnosis of a chronic condition, and tips to help you move forward.

With thanks to Katie Willard Varant.

You can read the episode transcript here.

For more support, reach out to Lifeline on 13 11 14 or online at, www.lifeline.org.au, or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636 or access free, confidential support online, www.beyondblue.org.au

Reach out for support:

MS Plus Connect 1800 042 138 or email [email protected]

Get in touch to share your comments and suggestions about this episode, or for future guests and episode topics by emailing [email protected]

Views expressed on the MS Podcast, including any discussions or reference to medications or treatments by podcast guests, do not necessarily represent the views of MS Plus and should not be seen as either an endorsement or rejection of a treatment.  

MS Plus does not recommend any specific treatment for people living with MS. Decisions about any treatments, taking into consideration the potential benefits and side effects for each individual’s circumstances, should be made in careful consultation with the person’s neurologist or health care professional. 

The MS Boost: Feeling Sick, Faking Well– with psychotherapist Katie Willard Virant

In this episode of the MS Boost, we discuss the challenges of living with chronic illness with psychotherapist Katie Willard Virant. Katie, a practitioner and author of the blog 'Chronically Me' on Psychology Today, shares her insights into the societal pressures that lead people to wear a 'costume of wellness' despite their health struggles, which inspired her article 'Feeling Sick, Faking Well', where Katie explores the concept of projecting wellness to meet societal expectations and the implications of this facade on mental health.

We chat about how this can look for people in their everyday lives, and the particular impact that this may have on mothers with MS, given that the majority of people diagnosed with MS are female and often in the prime of family life.

Katie also provides advice on how people can begin to shift towards being more authentic and the importance of taking up space in the world despite living with chronic illness. This episode provides a deep dive into the emotional complexities of living with an ongoing health condition and strategies for coping with societal pressures.

With thanks to Katie Willard Virant.

You can read the episode transcript here

For more support, reach out to Lifeline on 13 11 14 or online at, www.lifeline.org.au, or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636 or access free, confidential support online, www.beyondblue.org.au

Reach out for support:
MS Plus Connect 1800 042 138 or email [email protected]

Get in touch to share your comments and suggestions about this episode, or for future guests and episode topics by emailing [email protected]

Views expressed on the MS Podcast, including any discussions or reference to medications or treatments by podcast guests, do not necessarily represent the views of MS Plus and should not be seen as either an endorsement or rejection of a treatment.  

MS Plus does not recommend any specific treatment for people living with MS. Decisions about any treatments, taking into consideration the potential benefits and side effects for each individual’s circumstances, should be made in careful consultation with the person’s neurologist or health care professional. 

The MS Boost: A little bit of sunshine – MS and Vitamin D

Vitamin D has a complex relationship with MS, with links to increased risk of diagnosis, influencing gene expression in immune cells and generally being lower in people living with MS. In this episode of the MS Boost, we speak with Dr Wei, neurologist and researcher from the Alfred MSNI clinic, and discuss how much vitamin D people with MS need, how to get adequate levels of Vitamin D, as well as the role of supplementation in children of parents with MS.

With thanks to Dr Wei Yeh.

Presenter:

Dr Wei Yeh is a post-doctoral research fellow in the Department of Neuroscience, School of Translational Medicine, and neurologist in the Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology (MSNI) Unit at Alfred Health. His PhD investigated modifiable factors which interact with MS, specifically vitamin D immunobiology, through transcriptomics, and peri-pregnancy disease activity.

You can read the episode transcript here.

Reach out for support:
MS Plus Connect 1800 042 138 or email [email protected]

Get in touch to share your comments and suggestions about this episode, or for future guests and episode topics by [email protected]

Views expressed on the MS Podcast, including any discussions or reference to medications or treatments by podcast guests, do not necessarily represent the views of MS Plus and should not be seen as either an endorsement or rejection of a treatment.  

MS Plus does not recommend any specific treatment for people living with MS. Decisions about any treatments, taking into consideration the potential benefits and side effects for each individual’s circumstances, should be made in careful consultation with the person’s neurologist or health care professional. 

The MS Boost: The kids aren’t alright? - navigating a parent’s diagnosis for teens with Headspace clinical psychologist Nicola Palfrey

This episode of the MS Boost features Nicola Palfrey, a child clinical psychologist and head of clinical leadership at Headspace, focusing on how parents diagnosed with multiple sclerosis can effectively communicate with their teenagers about the diagnosis.

Nicola shares her views on teens and how they often get a bad rap, and the complexities of adolescent development. Nicola chats about the importance of respecting teens' experiences and offers strategies for parents to engage in meaningful conversations, that teens may be more receptive to.

Nicola also provides parents with tips about signs to look out for that may hint your teen isn’t coping and may need some additional support, and the importance of teens being part of the family conversation.

With thanks to Nicola Palfrey.

Nicola Palfrey is a Clinical Psychologist and currently works as Head of Clinical Leadership at headspace National where she works to support the best possible delivery of care to young people experiencing mental health concerns. She also has a lived experience as a young carer to her mother who had MS.

If you need more support, reach out to Lifeline on 13 11 14 or online at,www.lifeline.org.au, or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636 or access free, confidential support online,www.beyondblue.org.au

You can read the episode transcript here.

Reach out for support:
MS Plus Connect 1800 042 138 or email [email protected]

Get in touch to share your comments and suggestions about this episode, or for future guests and episode topics by [email protected]

Views expressed on the MS Podcast, including any discussions or reference to medications or treatments by podcast guests, do not necessarily represent the views of MS Plus and should not be seen as either an endorsement or rejection of a treatment.  

MS Plus does not recommend any specific treatment for people living with MS. Decisions about any treatments, taking into consideration the potential benefits and side effects for each individual’s circumstances, should be made in careful consultation with the person’s neurologist or health care professional. 

The MS Boost: HSCT for MS with neurologist Dr Cassie Nesbitt

In this episode we chat with neurologist Dr Cassie Nesbitt, one of the principal investigators for haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne.

Cassie explains the process of HSCT, risks and considerations for accessing HSCT treatment overseas, as well as the current research on who is likely to benefit and how this is accessed in Australia. Cassie outlines things to consider when undergoing HSCT such as fertility preservation, and the impact of HSCT on the immune system. We chat about how hope plays a role in people taking risks for treatment, and the future of HSCT and treatment for MS. Cassie also highlights how collaborative the MS HSCT community of neurologists are, and that they welcome people who have undergone HSCT overseas to continue seeing their neurologists and engaging in their healthcare

With thanks to Dr Cassie Nesbitt

Dr Cassie Nesbitt is a neurologist at Alfred Health in Melbourne. She is one of the principle investigators for HSCT at the Alfred, and one of the Autologous Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (AHSCT) Registry Steering Committee Members.

You can read the episode transcript Here

For more information about HSCT:
MS Research Australia: https://www.msaustralia.org.au/ahsct/
Get in touch with MS Plus to speak with a Nurse Advisor about HSCT and treatment options

Reach out for support:
MS Plus Connect 1800 042 138 or email [email protected]

Get in touch to share your comments and suggestions about this episode, or for future guests and episode topics by [email protected]

Views expressed on the MS Podcast, including any discussions or reference to medications or treatments by podcast guests, do not necessarily represent the views of MS Plus and should not be seen as either an endorsement or rejection of a treatment.  

MS Plus does not recommend any specific treatment for people living with MS. Decisions about any treatments, taking into consideration the potential benefits and side effects for each individual’s circumstances, should be made in careful consultation with the person’s neurologist or health care professional.