I live with a disease that worsens with stress. I 'lean out' when I can, but I can't avoid it all.
My multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms worsen with stress. I 'lean out' when and where I can, but it's impossible to avoid stress completely.
Lindsay Karp lives with multiple sclerosis (MS), a disease that worsens under stress. She tries to minimize stress, but finds it impossible to eliminate it entirely. MS symptoms can flare up in moments when stress is present, and it can take days or weeks to return to baseline. Her symptoms were particularly problematic in 2015 when she had to cancel a vacation due to a flare, and during her son's bar mitzvah in 2024 when her legs prevented her from dancing.
In March 2024, her husband's unexpected diagnosis of colon cancer caused another stress-induced flare. Despite these challenges, Karp aims to function better by limiting stress and accepting that MS symptoms are a part of her life.
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