Dear Judy,
My mother has MS. She is 52 and has had it since age 30. You know the disease. It progresses then stops, progresses then stops.
The thing is, she has stopped herself. She doesn’t do much of anything any more and I know she can do some things. She can read. She can talk. She can even get about (with difficult of course) and go to restaurants or the movies.
But she doesn’t want to it seems.
How can I get her to do stuff?
Phil
Dear Phil,
I’m sure it comes as no surprise to you that your mother is profoundly depressed. That’s what it sounds like, at least, from your description of her.
A person who’s lived with MS 22 years, has seen it as you write, progress and then stop, and then attack and retreat some more, has every reason to feel pessimistic and deeply unhappy.
What she needs is a visit to a good internist who can check her out and then prescribe mood enhancers. These might help. An intelligent therapist also might help. Ask around, and you’ll get some good recommendations for her.
Thanks for writing
Judy
