Living Well with Multiple Sclerosis

By Overcoming MS

Welcome to Living Well with MS, the podcast from the Overcoming MS charity. In each episode, your host Geoff Allix explores a different aspect of the Overcoming MS Program in greater depth by talking ... more

4.4

4444 ratings

Download on the App Store

Download on the App Store

Get it on Google Play

FAQs about Living Well with Multiple Sclerosis:

How many episodes does Living Well with Multiple Sclerosis have?

The podcast currently has 190 episodes available.

Living Well with Multiple Sclerosis episodes:

December 13, 2023Sophrology for MS with Audrey Zannese | S5E38
Welcome to Living Well with MS, where we are pleased to welcome Audrey Zannese as our guest! Audrey is a mindfulness expert living with MS and specialises in the relaxation method, sophrology. This practice has helped her to live well with MS. She talks to Geoff about her MS journey, what sophrology is and the research behind it. At the end of the episode, Audrey gives a guided sophrology practice.

Watch this episode on YouTube here. Keep reading for the key episode takeaways.
Topics and Timestamps
01:19 Audrey’s MS journey.

05:25 Managing stress.

08:19 The origins of sophrology.

11:22 The aims and benefits of sophrology.

14:00 Audrey’s switch from research scientist to sophrologist.

18:43 The research into the positive effects of sophrology.

22:25 Guided sophrology practice.
Selected Key Takeaways
Sophrology is a stress-reduction technique.

06:14 “Sophrology is a uniquely structured mind-body practice that combines both Western relaxation methods and Eastern meditative practices. It can be used for personal development, enhancing performance, but also for improving health and well-being. It includes a variety of exercises that are accessible and easy to incorporate into your daily life. There are gentle body movements, breathing exercises [and] aspects of mindfulness and meditation.”

The aims and benefits of sophrology practice.

11:22 “The aim of sophrology is to help you reconnect with yourself. Self-awareness of how you're feeling inside helps you build the capacity to regulate your internal state but also builds the capacity as you would find in mindfulness and meditation of acceptance and letting go when things cannot be changed. Through this work, as it is repetitive and very much a practice, you get to a place where you are feeling balanced in terms of your mind, body, and emotions.”

Sophrology is a big part of how Audrey lives well with MS.

15:04 “I remember one day I came out of my flat, and I was so happy to be alive. I didn't feel [my] MS anymore. I wasn't scared, I knew I had everything in me to live my best life, in a way I had never been [able to] before when I was healthy. When I look back, I look with compassion, but I realise that through this journey, what it was to be happy.”

Want to learn more about living a full and happy life with multiple sclerosis? Sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips.
More info and links:
Visit the Step into sophrology website
The Sophrology Academy website

Essential Guide to Tap into The Power of the Mind-Body Connection

New to Overcoming MS? Visit our introductory page

Connect with others following Overcoming MS on the Live Well Hub

Visit the Overcoming MS website
Follow us on social media:
Facebook
Instagram

YouTube

Pinterest

Don’t miss out:
Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episodes here. If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review.

Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing [email protected].

Make sure you sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS.
Support us:
If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, we would really appreciate it if you could leave a donation here. Every donation, however small, helps our charity to share how to live well with MS with more people.
...more
45min
December 06, 2023Dying Well with filmmaker Krystina Christiansen | S5E37
Welcome to Living Well with MS, where we are pleased to welcome Krystina Christiansen as our guest! Krystina is a filmmaker who has recently finished a documentary about an end-of-life letter she found, written by a man with MS.

Overcoming MS wants everyone to live a full and healthy life with MS, but it is inevitable that everyone, with or without MS, will pass away. It is therefore unhelpful that death is often a taboo subject. Krystina talks to Geoff about healthy ways to think about your own mortality, her new film, ‘Dear Brandon’ and planning ahead for your end of life, which is something that everyone needs to consider.

Keep reading for the key episode takeaways.
Topics and Timestamps:
02:29 Krystina found an end-of-life letter from a man with MS on a mountain in Hawaii.

04:12 ‘Dear Brandon’ is a film about death and grief, but also hope and community.

10:41 Healthy ways to think about your own mortality.

12:31 Writing a will and planning your funeral.

14:55 Resources at the end of life.

18:00 Death doulas can help the dying and their families.

20:18 Death cafes are safe spaces to talk about mortality.

24:35 Follow along with Brandon’s story and Krystina’s films.
Selected Key Takeaways:
Talking about death and dying doesn’t have to be taboo
07:03 “To know Brandon is to know someone who is going to die, he is on his deathbed. That's the social contract that you agree to when you become friends with him. I’d also like to point out that that's the social contract you have with everybody. It's just more obvious with him, I guess. I've learned that sometimes just talking about [death] does make it a bit easier for everyone.”

Make a plan for your funeral and estate
09:32 “Make sure that you plan for your death if it is something that we have the opportunity to do. Planning makes not only your end of life a bit smoother, but also for the ones you leave behind. It makes their lives a lot better and allows them to just focus on grieving versus dealing with the business of death.”

Death is not an emergency
19:05 “If you have someone in the home who passes away, you don't have to call anyone immediately. You can take your time and be with your loved one. There is no rush. You can even have people come over and say goodbye in the home. You can prepare the body in the home, there are so many different options.”

Want to learn more about living a full and happy life with multiple sclerosis? Sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips.
More info and links:
Learn more about Krystina’s work and “Dear Brandon”
See the people and places Brandon’s letter reached

Connect with others following Overcoming MS on the Live Well Hub

Visit the Overcoming MS website

Consider leaving a give to Overcoming MS

New to Overcoming MS? Visit our introductory page
Follow us on social media:
Facebook
Instagram

YouTube

Pinterest

Don’t miss out:
Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episodes here. If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review.

Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing [email protected].

Make sure you sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS.
Support us:
If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, we would really appreciate it if you could leave a donation here. Every donation, however small, helps us to share the podcast with more people on how to live well with MS.
...more
28min
November 29, 2023Webinar Highlights: Ask a Neurologist with Dr Aaron Boster | S5E36
Welcome to Living Well with MS. In this episode, we are sharing the highlights from one of our ‘Ask Aaron’ webinars, where neurologist, Dr Aaron Boster, answers questions about MS from the community. In this episode, Dr Boster covers a range of topics, including heat intolerance, when to start a DMT and his tips for self-managing MS.

You can watch the original webinar here. Keep reading for the key episode takeaways.
Topics and Timestamps:
02:13 Considerations for changing to a less stressful job and stronger DMTs.
05:09 Talking to clinicians about stress.
06:25 Hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
08:11 Stem cell transplants for PPMS.
10:35 Tysabri during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
12:23 MS and Stroke.
13:52 MRI showing brain cysts.
16:57 Betaferon and slow progression.
19:45 Changing from Tysabri to Ocrevus.
21:41 Vertigo.
23:05 Ampyra for walking, spasticity, and nerve pain.
25:50 Types of inflammation.
28:05 Anesthetic or epidural and MS.
30:15 B-cell depletion therapy and allergies.
31:17 Tips for self-managing MS.
37:42 Heat intolerance.
40:30 When to start on a DMT.
41:22 Ocrevus and low lymphocyte levels.
43:40 Diet and MS.
48:50 Nausea as an MS symptom.
51:30 CBD for MS.
52:45 Bursitis and MS.
53:36 Choosing a DMT and considering side effects.
55:16 Invisible illness in an ableist world.
Selected Key Takeaways:
Exercise as part of your daily lifestyle
34:42 “Exercising as part of a lifestyle means that if you do it, you're not rewarded. There's no reward for doing something as part of your lifestyle and if you don't do it, there's no punishment - you're not sent to the naughty corner. So, for example, I have a lifestyle of brushing my teeth. I don't tweet about it. I don't make YouTube videos about it. I don't even talk about it when I get to work. It's just something I do every morning and if I happen to forget to brush my teeth before I head off to the office, I'll run upstairs and do it. This is part of my lifestyle. So, I need people impacted by MS to exercise as part of their lifestyle.”

Plan your day to minimise symptoms like heat intolerance
39:43 “We can conserve energy during those times when it's really hot out. Whereas I would normally encourage a patient to park at the back of the parking lot to get their steps in. If it's the middle of the day, [walking that far is] going to sap all your energy so that when you get to the grocery store you can't shop, that doesn't really work very well, does it? And so that's an example where we would have someone drop us off at the threshold of the grocery store so that you can be successful in your shopping.”

Be brave in using mobility aids and seeking accommodations.
57:27 “I tell people who are embarrassed by their cane, ‘Don't you dare be embarrassed by your cane, a cane is a sign of intelligence.’ A person with a cane would like to not fall. So, when a little boy is walking with [his] mum, and says, ‘Mummy, why is she using a cane?’ That's an opportunity for the mother to say, ‘Well, she doesn't want to fall, she has a problem with her leg and the cane helps her.’ It normalises it. So, one of the things that we need to do is to be brave. I'll remind you of the definition of bravery, ‘doing something despite being scared’. The second thing is, I want you to be very selfish. You need to be selfish; you live your life once. You're not living your life so some stranger, you don't know, thinks nice polite things about you.”

Want to learn more about living a full and happy life with multiple sclerosis? Sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips.
More info and links:
Watch the original webinar here.
Dr Boster was on three previous Living Well with MS episodes:
S1E11: Making the Right Medication Choices
S2E17: Lifestyle Choices and Their Impact on MS

S3E43: Let’s Talk About (and MS)

Check out Dr Boster’s popular YouTube channel covering all aspects of MS.

New to Overcoming MS? Visit our introductory page

Connect with others following Overcoming MS on the Live Well Hub

Visit the Overcoming MS website
Follow us on social media:
Facebook
Instagram

YouTube

Pinterest

Don’t miss out:
Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episodes here. If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review.

Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing [email protected].

Make sure you sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS.
Support us:
If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, we would really appreciate it if you could leave a donation here. Every donation, however small, helps us to share the podcast with more people on how to live well with MS.
...more
1h 1min
November 15, 2023Webinar highlights: Guide to the Overcoming MS Diet with Gillian Robertson and Ashley Madden | S5E35
Welcome to Living Well with MS. In this episode, we are sharing the highlights from our webinar, ‘A guide to the Overcoming MS Diet’, with Gillian Robertson and Ashley Madden. Gillian and Ashley are both professional chefs who follow the Overcoming MS Program. In this webinar, they discuss how to adopt the diet, the benefits of a plant-based diet, dairy substitutes and much more.

Watch the original webinar here. Keep reading for the key episode takeaways.
Topics and Timestamps
02:52 Practical ways to adopt the Overcoming MS Diet.

08:56 What is a plant-based diet?

14:58 Meals and snacks that offer a complete protein.

22:32 Substituting cheese and ice cream.

27:13 Cooking without oil.

33:13 Meal planning equipment.

39:33 Plant-based meal planning on a budget.
Selected Key Takeaways
A whole food, plant-based diet is health-promoting.
11:00 Ashley Madden: “A plant-based diet is high in essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and fibre. It's overall anti-inflammatory because we're getting a lot of antioxidants from all those colourful plant foods. It's low in saturated fat, which is important for us, of course, and also has extensive health benefits that go beyond. A plant-based diet has been shown to reduce the risk of some cancers, it can help with weight loss or weight stabilisation, and it can also decrease the risks and sometimes reverse some of the modern-day chronic diseases that we're seeing in a lot of the developed countries.”

It’s easy to get enough complete protein on a plant-based diet.
14:27 Ashley Madden: “What modern science has taught us is that the amino acid gaps in one plant food are filled in by another plant food. The bottom line is that you don't need to strategically pair plant foods in specific meals to get the protein that you need. We now know that eating a variety of whole plant foods will get you all of the essential amino acids that are required. I have here listed just some simple meal and snack ideas that actually do offer you complete protein that you're probably already doing and don't even know it. So brown rice and beans, oatmeal, and nuts and seeds or soy milk, sprouted bread is a great one because it has a combination of legumes and grains and nuts and hummus on whole wheat toast.”

Plant based cooking can be done on a budget.
39:45 Gillian Robertson: “Organic now is a big trend. Obviously, it can be very expensive. Don't feel that you always have to buy organic. As long as you're washing your fruit and vegetables well, you're going to be okay. And it's okay to look at frozen fruit and vegetables as well as fresh ones, these are often cheaper, they're just as nutritious and they can help save time because they're often pre-prepared as well. Frozen fish can also be much more economical. If you start thinking about the inexpensive items in plant-based cooking, [such as] grains, pulses, seasonal vegetables, if you make those the base of your meals, then your meals really are not going to cost that much money.
More info and Links:
Watch the original webinar
Try out some recipes on our website

Read our blog for tips on shopping at the supermarket

New to Overcoming MS? Visit our introductory page

Connect with others following Overcoming MS on the Live Well Hub

Visit the Overcoming MS website
Follow us on social media:
Facebook
Instagram

YouTube

Pinterest

Don’t miss out:
Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episodes here. If you like Living Well with MS, we’d appreciate it if you could leave us a 5-star review.

Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing [email protected].

Make sure you sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS.
Support us:
If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, we would appreciate it if you can leave a donation here.
...more
46min
November 08, 2023Ask Jack – Cooking with Tofu | S5E34
Welcome to Living Well with MS, where we are pleased to welcome Jack McNulty as our guest! Jack is a professional cook and a longtime follower of the Overcoming MS Program. In this episode, he answers questions from the community about how to cook with tofu.

Watch this episode on YouTube here. Keep reading for the key episode takeaways.
Topics and Timestamps:
01:42 What is tofu?

02:37 Is it possible to make tofu from scratch?

03:59 Benefits of adding tofu to your diet.

05:54 Debunking the myth that ‘tofu is bland’.

07:03 Saturated fat levels in tofu.

08:52 Different types and textures of tofu.

16:24 The difference between tofu and tempeh.

21:49 Ways to change the texture of tofu.

28:57 Do you have to press tofu before cooking?

31:22 Jack’s favourite tofu marinades and recipes.
Selected Key Takeaways:
Tofu is an affordable, easy-to-digest, source of protein.
04:25 “Tofu is fairly easy to digest. A lot of people who may have trouble [digesting] legumes can actually digest tofu a little bit easier than they can from the whole bean, which is nice. It's definitely a good source of protein. It’s really affordable. The other thing that I think that's really interesting with tofu is it's basically just a blank canvas."

Tofu vs. tempeh
17:01 “Tofu is made from soy milk from the whole soybean turned into milk and then coagulated. Tempeh which originates from Indonesia (and you see it a lot in Indonesian cooking) is [made from] whole beans. It's generally soybeans, but it can be made with other kinds of beans like chickpeas and is pressed together and inoculated with a mold and then packaged so it has this sort of white net around the beans, which gives it a very specific flavour.”

Pressing tofu can make it dry.
29:19 “You want to be careful [pressing tofu] because you're forcing out a lot of the moisture from the interior of the tofu that's going to make it fundamentally dry at the end. I would be very cautious with recipes that say, ‘start off by pressing the tofu’. I think it's much better to take a different approach, maybe freeze it, maybe pour some boiling salted water over it, or marinate it rather than pressing it.”

Want to learn more about living a full and happy life with multiple sclerosis? Sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips.
More info and links:
Try Jack’s Marinated & Dry-sautéed Tofu
Try Jack’s Tofu Vegan Mayonnaise

Listen to ‘S4E48: Ask Jack’ for his tofu scramble recipe
New to Overcoming MS? Visit our introductory page
Connect with others following Overcoming MS on the Live Well Hub

Visit the Overcoming MS website
Follow us on social media:
Facebook
Instagram

YouTube

Pinterest

Don’t miss out:
Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episodes here. If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review.

Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing [email protected].

Make sure you sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS.
Support us:
If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, we would really appreciate it if you could leave a donation here. Every donation, however small, helps us to share the podcast with more people on how to live well with MS.
...more
42min
November 01, 2023Oils and Fats with industrial chemist Mike Newton | S5E33
Welcome to Living Well with MS, where we are pleased to welcome Mike Newton as our guest! Mike is an industrial chemist and follows the Overcoming MS Program. He lives in Australia and has been following the recommendations of Dr Roy Swank and Professor George Jelinek for 25 years. He talks to Geoff about the difference between saturated and unsaturated fats, heating oils and his Overcoming MS journey.

Watch this episode on our YouTube here. Keep reading for the key episode takeaways.
Topics and Timestamps:
01:13 Defining oils, fats, triglycerides and lipids from a cooking and chemistry perspective.

07:35 Fats to avoid and include in your diet.

12:54 What’s the difference between plant, animal and fish triglycerides or fats?

16:44 Why do we want to increase our Omega-3s and decrease Omega-9s?

19:24 The difference between monoglycerides and diglycerides is in the melting point, lower melting points are better for brain health.

22:50 Overcoming MS and Dr Roy Swank
Selected Key Takeaways:
Defining Oils and Fats
01:40 “Triglycerides are the encompassing description of all oils and fats, whether they are from plants or animals, and whether they are liquid or solid. The terms oil and fat are more for the layman and the cooking man. Oil is a liquid at room temperature, and fat is a solid at room temperature.”

Hydrogenated fat in commercially produced foods
16:09 “The reason that they use hydrogenated fats is to give the [food] structure so that they can make a pie that you can eat with ease without it all collapsing around you while you're eating it. So, it's purely done for your mouthfeel and structure, so you can eat it (more easily).”

Roy Swank’s theory on fat and MS
24:27 “Swank took the theory that the brain is made of a very high percentage of fat and cholesterol. If [your brain] is rock hard like this candle, then when it's rattling around in your head, the lesions in your brain will be scraping against your skull or another very hard piece of brain, causing more symptoms than that you would get if your brain was fluid and malleable.”

Want to learn more about living a full and happy life with multiple sclerosis? Sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips.
More info and links:
Recommended Oils on the Overcoming MS Program
Guide to understanding Fats in the MS Diet

Role of Fats in the Overcoming MS Diet

Types of fats in your diet

New to Overcoming MS? Visit our introductory page

Connect with others following Overcoming MS on the Live Well Hub

Visit the Overcoming MS website
Follow us on social media:
Facebook
Instagram

YouTube

Pinterest

Don’t miss out:
Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episodes here. If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review.

Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing [email protected].

Make sure you sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS.
Support us:
If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, we would really appreciate it if you could leave a donation here. Every donation, however small, helps us to share the podcast with more people on how to live well with MS.
...more
28min
October 25, 2023Autoimmunity with Dr David Bilstrom | S5E32
Welcome to Living Well with MS, where we are pleased to welcome Dr David Bilstrom as our guest! Dr Bilstrom, MD is the Director of the International Autoimmune Institute & Bingham Memorial Center for Functional Medicine and an expert in treating autoimmune diseases. He talks to Geoff about what autoimmune diseases are, about Vitamin D and gives his tips for sticking with lifestyle change.

Watch this episode on YouTube here. Keep reading for the key episode takeaways.
Topics and Timestamps:
00:59 Dr Bilstrom’s introduction and work in autoimmunity.

01:48 Reversing MS symptoms.

03:32 Infections and autoimmune diseases.

05:52 Vitamin D and MS.

10:45 Supplementing with butyrate.

12:23 Leaky gut and autoimmunity.

14:34 Oestrogen dominance and autoimmunity.

19:03 Adverse childhood events and autoimmunity.

23:40 Tips for sticking with lifestyle change.
Selected Key Takeaways:
The risk of autoimmunity increases if a parent has an autoimmune disease.
02:04 “It's so easy if you get one autoimmune disease to get a second or third or fourth, but also, if a parent has an autoimmune disease, the child is at a higher risk of every autoimmune disease. For example, if a parent gets rheumatoid arthritis, that child is at a 5.4 times greater risk of getting type one diabetes. We want to educate people about what we know about why people get autoimmune diseases.”

Vitamin D and prevention of autoimmune diseases
06:38 “If a woman's vitamin D is above 50 during pregnancy, she's going to decrease the risk of her child ever getting MS by 50% … Vitamin D is uber important when it comes to immune system stuff, such as preventing MS in pregnancy. Cancer is the flip side of the same coin, that's [another] autoimmune disease. If a woman's vitamin D is above 60, she has automatically decreased her risk of ever getting breast cancer by 82%. Kids that take vitamin D 2000 IU in the first year of life will decrease the risk of ever getting type one diabetes by 90%.”

Epigenetics and autoimmunity
11:11 “We used to think our genes, our DNA in our cells, [that] whatever we got from our parents [and] grandparents we’re stuck with it. If a parent has MS, they’d think “well, I wish I could change some of the genes my child has.” Well, it turns out, it's not what genes you have, it’s which ones get turned on and turned off. So, it's epigenetics, the things that influence gene expression. There are a lot of bad genes that drive chronic disease, we’ve got to turn those guys off, as well as good genes that drive health, we’ve got to turn those guys on.”

Want to learn more about living a full and happy life with multiple sclerosis? Sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips.
More info and links:
Learn more about Dr Bilstrom’s work
Take Dr Bilstrom’s free online course

New to Overcoming MS? Visit our introductory page

Connect with others following Overcoming MS on the Live Well Hub

Visit the Overcoming MS website
Follow us on social media:
Facebook
Instagram

YouTube

Pinterest

Don’t miss out:
Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episodes here. If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review.

Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing [email protected].

Make sure you sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS.
Support us:
If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, we would really appreciate it if you could leave a donation here. Every donation, however small, helps our charity to share how to live well with MS with more people.
...more
27min
October 18, 2023Webinar Highlights Breathwork with Dr Véronique Gauthier-Simmons | S5E31
In this episode, we are sharing highlights from our webinar, ‘Breathwork for people living with MS’ with Dr Véronique Gauthier-Simmons. Véronique is a qualified yoga therapist, follows the Overcoming MS Program and has supported Overcoming MS as a facilitator. She discusses what breathwork is, how it can help people living with MS and ends the talk with a breathwork practice for you to try.

Watch the original webinar here. Keep reading for the key episode takeaways and Véronique’s bio.
Topics and Timestamps
00:58 Véronique’s background

06:25 Véronique’s breathwork training

08:58 Breathing basics

11:24 Dysfunctional breathing patterns

13:31 The power of the breath

16:00 Using the breath to influence other body systems.

18:37 Benefits of breathwork for MS

24:01 The diaphragm

27:00 Breathwork practice
Selected Key Takeaways
You can take control of your breath.
15:22 “We don't have to think, ‘I need to breathe in, I need to breathe out.’ It happens automatically. But we can also tell the brain, ‘I'm taking over the control, I'm in charge now’. That is the only system in the body that can do that, and that gives us the power to change how we feel because they are connected. We can use the breath as a language to communicate with the different systems in the body.”

You can reduce inflammation with breathwork by stimulating the Vagus Nerve
20:26 “There is a really interesting link between breathing and inflammation. I'm sure you've all heard about the Vagus Nerve, and we can stimulate the Vagus Nerve with breathing, [which] reduces stress and inflammation, [as] we know that stress leads to inflammation. So, there is an indirect way to reduce inflammation via the Vagus Nerve with breathwork.”

A tense diaphragm can negatively impact our breathing.
26:12 “The problem with the diaphragm is that we are not very aware of it, and it can get tense because it’s linked with the Vagus Nerve and the psoas muscle, which connects the upper body and the lower body. So, when we spend many hours sitting [and] when we are stressed, everything tightens, everything gets tense. This affects the movement of the diaphragm and our breathing.”

Want to learn more about living a full and happy life with multiple sclerosis? Sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips.
More info and links:
Find out more about Véronique here: Taming the Walrus
Breath by James Nestor

Dr. Ela Manga

New to Overcoming MS? Visit our introductory page

Connect with others following Overcoming MS on the Live Well Hub

Visit the Overcoming MS website
Follow us on social media:
Facebook
Instagram

YouTube

Pinterest

Don’t miss out:
Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episode here. If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review.

Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing [email protected].

Make sure you sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS.

If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, you can leave a donation.
...more
50min
October 11, 2023Mindfulness and Self-compassion with Melanie Lown | S5E30
Welcome to Living Well with MS, where we are pleased to welcome Melanie Lown as our guest. Melanie is a mindfulness teacher, has an M.A. in Psychology, and follows the Overcoming MS Program. She talks to Geoff about her MS diagnosis, the power of mindfulness and the importance of self-compassion.

Watch this episode on YouTube here.
Topics and Timestamps:
01:30 Melanie’s introduction and MS diagnosis.

03:58 Balancing self-advocacy with compassion for healthcare professionals.

07:07 Using a diagnosis to discover your purpose.

09:48 Discovering Overcoming MS.

12:02 Our lived experience is as valid as datasets.

13:29 DMTs and COVID.

16:31 The growing popularity of mindfulness in Western medicine.

21:45 Meditation physically changes the brain.

23:33 Depression and spiritualism are opposite sides of the same neural pathway.

27:54 The awakened brain vs. the achieving brain.

29:39 Activating the parasympathetic nervous system with self-compassion.

33:39 Emotions are not ‘good’ or ‘bad’.

35:44 Mindfully choosing your healthcare team and treatment.

42:22 Tips to incorporate mindfulness into your lifestyle.

47:54 Non-judgmental awareness.
More info and links:
Visit Melanie’s Website or follow her on Instagram: @welcometothemat.
Melanie’s Recommended Meditation teachers and guides:
Vinny Ferraro
Amanda Gilbert

Elisha Goldstein

Tara Branch

Davidji

Insight Timer

New to Overcoming MS? Visit our introductory page

Connect with others following Overcoming MS on the Live Well Hub

Visit the Overcoming MS website
Melanie’s Recommended Books:
The Awakened Brain by Dr. Lisa Miller
Self-Compassion by Kristin Neff

How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan

Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach

Cured by Jeffrey Rediger

Learned Hopefulness by Dr. Dan Tomasulo
Melanie's Recommended Scientific Articles:
Fredrickson, B. L., & Losada, M. F. (2005). Positive affect and the complex dynamics of human flourishing. American psychologist, 60(7), 678.
Miller, L., Bansal, R., Wickramaratne, P., Hao, X., Tenke, C. E., Weissman, M. M., & Peterson, B. S. (2014). Neuroanatomical correlates of religiosity and spirituality: a study in adults at high and low familial risk for depression. JAMA psychiatry, 71(2), 128-135.

Miller, L., Wickramaratne, P., Gameroff, M. J., Sage, M., Tenke, C. E., & Weissman, M. M. (2012). Religiosity and major depression in adults at high risk: a ten-year prospective study. American Journal of Psychiatry, 169(1), 89-94.

Portnoff, L., McClintock, C., Lau, E., Choi, S., & Miller, L. (2017). Spirituality cuts in half the relative risk for depression: Findings from the United States, China, and India. Spirituality in Clinical Practice, 4(1), 22.
Follow us on social media:
Facebook
Instagram

YouTube

Pinterest

Don’t miss out:
Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episodes here. If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review.

Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing [email protected].

Make sure you sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS.
Support us:
If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, we would really appreciate it if you could leave a donation here. Every donation, however small, helps us to share the podcast with more people on how to live well with MS.
...more
50min
October 04, 2023Developing new DMTs with Professor Stephen L. Hauser | S5E29
Welcome to Living Well with MS. In this episode, we are delighted to welcome neurologist, Professor Stephen L. Hauser as our guest. Professor Hauser has been researching MS since the 1970s, and his team’s research led to the development of the disease-modifying therapy ‘Ocrevus’. He talks to Geoff about the future of DMTs for MS, what autoimmunity is, and how he and his team developed one of the most world-renowned MS DMTs.
Questions and Timestamps
01:45 Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your work?

04:23 What is autoimmunity and how does it relate to MS and inflammation?

06:37 Are some people more prone to develop autoimmune conditions?

10:11 How can a person get the most out of the time they have with their neurologist?

14:01 The benefits of participating in a clinical trial.

16:01 How is MS similar or different from other brain conditions?

20:11 Is there a role of infection in brain diseases like MS?

23:10 The role of hygiene in autoimmunity.

25:40 Book excerpt and how Ocrevus was developed.

32:53 What’s next in B-cell research and MS?

37:58 What tips do you have for lifestyle modifications for people who have MS?
More info and links:
Read more about Professor Hauser from the American Brain Foundation
Read The Face Laughs While the Brain Cries: The Education of a Doctor

Read the key episode takeaways and Professor Hauser’s bio

New to Overcoming MS? Visit our introductory page

Connect with others following Overcoming MS on the Live Well Hub

Visit the Overcoming MS website
Follow us on social media:
Facebook
Instagram

YouTube

Pinterest

Don’t miss out:
Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS episode here. If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review.

Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing [email protected].

Make sure you sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS.

If you enjoy this podcast and want to support the ongoing work of Overcoming MS, you can leave a donation.
...more
42min

FAQs about Living Well with Multiple Sclerosis:

How many episodes does Living Well with Multiple Sclerosis have?

The podcast currently has 190 episodes available.

More shows like Living Well with Multiple Sclerosis

Mamamia Out Loud by Mamamia Podcasts

Mamamia Out Loud

592 Listeners

RealTalk MS by Jon Strum

RealTalk MS

142 Listeners

The Doctor's Kitchen Podcast by Dr Rupy Aujla

The Doctor's Kitchen Podcast

601 Listeners

Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee by Dr Rangan Chatterjee: GP & Author

Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee

4,035 Listeners

Happy Place by Fearne Cotton

Happy Place

1,260 Listeners

Breaking it down - A multiple sclerosis podcast by MS Trust

Breaking it down - A multiple sclerosis podcast

14 Listeners

How To Fail With Elizabeth Day by Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment

How To Fail With Elizabeth Day

1,298 Listeners

The Dr Louise Newson Podcast by Dr Louise Newson

The Dr Louise Newson Podcast

255 Listeners

MS Living Well: Key Info from Multiple Sclerosis Experts by Barry Singer, MD

MS Living Well: Key Info from Multiple Sclerosis Experts

117 Listeners

Thriving Over Surviving Multiple Sclerosis by Edie Sohigian

Thriving Over Surviving Multiple Sclerosis

38 Listeners

The MSing Link by Dr. Gretchen Hawley PT, DPT, MSCS

The MSing Link

109 Listeners

The Mel Robbins Podcast by Mel Robbins

The Mel Robbins Podcast

20,753 Listeners

Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting For Life by Gin Stephens and Sheri Bullock

Fast. Feast. Repeat. Intermittent Fasting For Life

1,225 Listeners

MeSsy with Christina Applegate & Jamie Lynn Sigler by Wishbone Production

MeSsy with Christina Applegate & Jamie Lynn Sigler

3,501 Listeners

Begin Again with Davina McCall by Begin Again

Begin Again with Davina McCall

449 Listeners