Space
MS, mood swings
and waterproof
mascara
by Kimberly Zolotar
Waterproof mascara has become my valuable ally
against MS mood swings. When
my eyes begin to water
out of anger or frustration, waterproof mascara
keeps me from looking
like a raccoon. Wearing it
allows for a quicker recovery when life with MS
becomes overwhelming.
The littlest things can
irritate me now. Last
week, just the sight of our
cluttered kitchen table
drove me over the edge.
My husband and son
ran for cover as I hurled
random papers and
half-filled water bottles
into the trash. Although
our kitchen table really
looked like it belonged on
an episode of Hoarders,
I still hate that I got so
upset over the mess.
Mood swings may be
an invisible symptom
of MS, but coping with
them is often as challenging as living with
the visible symptoms. It
is helpful to know what
triggers feelings of anger,
frustration or sadness.
Being prepared can help
when it comes to handling emotions.
ILLUSTRATION BY JACOB THOMAS
Irritating situations trigger
my mood swings. Like finding no accessible entrance to
my son’s soccer game. (Soccer
moms apparently do not need
ramps.) Taking a few deep
breaths or counting slowly to
10 sometimes helps me calm
down.
It’s not just me
Dr. Barbara Giesser, clinical
professor of Neurology at the
David Geffen UCLA School of
Medicine, assured me that mood
swings are common in MS.
They are caused by neurological
changes, the stress of living with
an unpredictable illness, or a
