For many, mid-life is a time of great stress. This stress is different for everyone, but may include launching children into the real world and caring for grandchildren or our own aging parents. For women, this also includes the hormonal changes of menopause. There may also be stress over money as we start to look toward retirement.
For someone aging with multiple sclerosis (MS), this stress may also include changes in health due to MS. Some secondary conditions appear to be worse in mid-life. Sifting through things like long-term care insurance, retiring with a disability, or applying for disability benefits is also stressful. Some people have an amazing ability to cope during these times of great stress; others seem to struggle.
This study's goal two-fold:
This study has 2 parts:
Dawn Ehde, PhD is a rehabilitation psychologist known for her work in chronic pain for people with physical disabilities as well as using self-management programs to help people living with MS. Dawn is interested in positive psychology, such as concepts like happiness, resilience, and coping.
Kevin Alschuler, PhD is a rehabilitation psychologist who sees patients with MS at the UW Medicine’s MS Center. Like Dawn, Kevin is also interested in positive psychology, such as concepts like happiness, resilience, and coping.