Multiple Sclerosis & Mental Health

Living Well

May 9, 2025

Chloe Franklin

A man sits by the window with his head down. — Mental health can look different to everyone.

Living with multiple sclerosis comes with its own unique set of challenges which can have a significant impact on your mental health. Without good mental health, you may struggle to handle stress, relate well to others, take care of yourself or make good decisions. Mental health is influenced by your situation and environment. The people around you, your community and the barriers you face all affect how you feel.Everyone can benefit from nurturing their mental health and focusing on emotional wellness. Dawn Ehde, a clinical psychologist in the University of Washington Medicine Division of Clinical and Neuropsychology, explores the importance of mental health and resources available to help you.

Mental Health Symptoms

Mental health issues can look different in every person. Many people experience uncomfortable or unwanted emotions from time to time like anxiety, worry, sadness, grief or frustration. However, when these emotions overstay their welcome, they can interfere with our ability to live our daily lives and take care of ourselves.Depression affects approximately 50% of people living with MS at some point in their life. Depression can be a result of the anxiety, grief and fear caused by having MS. Depression can manifest as a period of deep sadness or losing pleasure in activities that previously struck joy. It can also look like:

Becoming irritable
Change in appetite
Sleep disturbances (like oversleeping or insomnia)
Agitation or slowing behavior (that can look like slowing down physically and mentally)
Lack of energy
Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
Problems with concentration
Persistent thoughts of death or suicide

Anxiety is also common in people living with MS. Approximately 1 in 3 people with MS will have an anxiety disorder at some point. “We all kind of know what it feels like nervous, or tense or anxious about something,” Edhe says, “[but sometimes] the anxiety isn’t just transient, it’s just not coming or going, it’s not related to a temporary stressor and it hangs around a long time.”Anxiety can cause nervousness, tension, panic or worry. Sometime anxiety can also cause tingling or numbness, which can also be confused for similar issues people with MS experience. It can also lead to an increase in heart rate, sweating, trembling, lack of energy, issues with sleeping, GI problems or issues with memory.MS and anxiety symptoms tend to be most common during and after diagnosis, during MS relapses or after changes in functioning.

Becoming irritable
Change in appetite
Sleep disturbances (like oversleeping or insomnia)
Agitation or slowing behavior (that can look like slowing down physically and mentally)
Lack of energy
Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
Problems with concentration
Persistent thoughts of death or suicide

Seeking Professional Help and Support

Mental health symptoms can overlap or worsen other MS symptoms, such as fatigue, pain spasticity and attention or memory issues. Addressing your mental health may help improve your MS symptoms.If you aren’t sure where to start, it may be helpful to schedule a one-time visit with a mental health provider and ask for their treatment recommendations. They may be able to support your needs or refer you to a specialist.There are many types of professionals who can help you develop new coping skills for different types of mental health issues:

Psychologists have a doctoral degree and treat conditions with therapy. Those living with MS may consider a rehabilitation or health psychologist. These specialists can evaluate, diagnose and treat mental health conditions in people living with MS.
Neuropsychologists have a doctoral degree and specialized training in evaluation of cognitive functions. They typically use a variety of tests to assess specific cognitive strengths and impairments.
Clinical social workers focus on the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions. They do not prescribe medications and must be licensed or certified at the clinical level in their state of practice.
Psychiatrists are medical physicians who diagnose and treat their patients primarily through medication.

Before you decide to work with someone on improving your mental health, learn more about their training and practice to see if they are the right fit for you.

Psychologists have a doctoral degree and treat conditions with therapy. Those living with MS may consider a rehabilitation or health psychologist. These specialists can evaluate, diagnose and treat mental health conditions in people living with MS.
Neuropsychologists have a doctoral degree and specialized training in evaluation of cognitive functions. They typically use a variety of tests to assess specific cognitive strengths and impairments.
Clinical social workers focus on the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions. They do not prescribe medications and must be licensed or certified at the clinical level in their state of practice.
Psychiatrists are medical physicians who diagnose and treat their patients primarily through medication.

Before you decide to work with someone on improving your mental health, learn more about their training and practice to see if they are the right fit for you.

Finding Resilience Within

live well with MS before you find that support.Exercise and physical activity can have a positive impact on your mood and quality of life. You can also engage in activities and hobbies that bring you comfort and joy. This can include activities such as playing an instrument, doing volunteer work or even reading a book.“Be active in your mental health,” Ehde says. “Nurture your mental health, monitor it. If you notice changes, that means it's probably time to do something. Whether it’s something you do for yourself or if it’s something you do by seeking help.”Many of those living with a chronic disease, including MS, say that resilience is the key to not just coping but thriving. Resilience helps create a mindset of growth and of seeing obstacles as challenges rather than threats. It is a skill that is learned and most effective when practiced regularly.
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It’s always important to seek professional support, but there are also ways to live well with MS before you find that support.Exercise and physical activity can have a positive impact on your mood and quality of life. You can also engage in activities and hobbies that bring you comfort and joy. This can include activities such as playing an instrument, doing volunteer work or even reading a book.“Be active in your mental health,” Ehde says. “Nurture your mental health, monitor it. If you notice changes, that means it's probably time to do something. Whether it’s something you do for yourself or if it’s something you do by seeking help.”Many of those living with a chronic disease, including MS, say that resilience is the key to not just coping but thriving. Resilience helps create a mindset of growth and of seeing obstacles as challenges rather than threats. It is a skill that is learned and most effective when practiced regularly.

Mental Health Resources

Find Doctors & Resources tool.

Ask your primary care providers for a referral. They often keep a list of mental health professionals on hand.

The American Psychological Association (APA), Clinical Social Work Association (CSWA) and Psychology Today maintain a list of nationwide psychologists.

What to Expect from Mental Healthcare: A Guide for People with MS is a Society resource which outlines basic information on mental health, types of diagnoses and options for seeking providers.If you find it challenging to get approval for specific therapeutic services or are denied coverage, the National Alliance on Mental Health provides tips for appealing insurance decisions.For those without health insurance, many mental health facilities and community health centers offer sliding scale therapy. With sliding scale therapy, treatment is priced according to each person’s income. At some centers, access to a therapist in training may be free. Needymeds.org can be a great resource to find a sliding scale professional along with low-cost medical prescriptions.The Society also hosts several support groups and resilience programs for people living with MS and their caregivers. Visit nationalMSsociety.org or contact an MS Navigator for more information.
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Access is the most common barrier to mental health services. For those with health insurance, finding out if mental health services are covered under your health insurance and a provider who meets your needs, can feel overwhelming.There are many resources for finding a mental health provider and learning what to expect should you choose to seek mental healthcare:

Find a doctor with expertise in treating people with MS using the National MS Society’s Find Doctors & Resources tool.
Ask your primary care providers for a referral. They often keep a list of mental health professionals on hand.
The American Psychological Association (APA), Clinical Social Work Association (CSWA) and Psychology Today maintain a list of nationwide psychologists.

Chloe Franklin

Chloe Franklin is a Content Specialist with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society based in Chicago.

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