MS and SEX

We talk about how traumatic memories are formed and most importantly, how you can rewire your brain so that this past adverse experiences lose their grip on your life.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Awareness is important because acknowledgment of the problem is the first step on the path to change. Surprisingly, this topic does tie into multiple sclerosis.

Female Bodies can have erectile dysfunction too! This topic has been a bit frustrating for me. True true, I loved reading about the anatomy, innervation, and vasculature of the clitoris. Perhaps more than a normal person would. But when it came down to looking into established medical solutions for MS-related sexual dysfunction in female-bodied people I ran into dead ends and got a lot of helpless shrugging.

But there are solutions and I talk about them in this episode. I promise to keep looking for more and this is an ongoing topic.

In today's episode, I talk about the History of the Anatomy of the Clitoris and why it matters. The topic is packed with information, comical, and dark all at the same time.

Then at about 17:00 minutes into the program, I give you a rapid-fire, super-condensed, summary of the innervation of the female genitals. I do this so that you can have some basic knowledge before I come back with some answers from my interview with Dr. Claire Yang.

I talk with the author of "ADHD After Dark: Better Sex, Better Relationships" about how problems with focus and ADHD can affect our sexual well-being. And we cover solutions!

I talk with the author of "ADHD After Dark: Better Sex, Better Relationships" about how problems with focus and ADHD can affect our sexual well-being. And we cover solutions!

Cognitive issues are a real thing with MS. This month we talk about how this can affect your sexual health. In this bonus episode, we are talking about some of the causes of cognitive decline and then we cover a few things we can do to combat this devastating symptom. There are solutions!

1) Reducing stress with mindfulness, meditation, and getting enough sleep.

2) Nutrition

3) Exercise (a good hard workout can actually make your hippocampus increase in size!) I recommend checking out The MS Gym. He offers exercise videos designed just for folks with MS.

4) Cognitive Stimulation

5) Socialization

After you listen to this episode and have an idea of the physiological causes behind cognitive decline, tune back in on the 15th to hear my conversation with Dr. Ari Tuckman who is the Author of ADHD after dark.

Join us on February 8th at 5 PM pacific time for a FREE presentation on the basics of how MS affects sexual health.

www.MSexualHealth

Here are a few resources I promised:

· Why the Brain uses so much Energy

· The Shrinking Hippocampus

· Cortisol Research

· Research that backs up the benefits of masturbation before bed!

I'm grateful to writers and researchers like Dr. Sarah Rainey Smithback because their words expose me to new perspectives and challenge me to rethink my perception of reality. I had a dramatic lightbulb moment about surrendering to vulnerability while reading "The Pleasures of Care: Love, Sex, and disability". In this bonus episode, I talk about one section in the book that spurred this revelation.

You'll also hear a conversation between my partner Susan and me; we talk about a wheelchair conflict we had several years ago. It's a discussion about shame, resistance, and control. We're all a work in progress; all we can do is take steps every day to challenge ourselves and enrich our relationships. Vulnerability is scary for everyone but braving this emotion makes you a superhero in your own story.

Be sure to join us for a live Q&A with Dr. Sarah on January 20th at 5:00 PM Pacific Time.

Go to www.MSexualHealth/podcast.com to reserve your spot in the conversation. Or sign up on my calendar to get a link to the event.

Here are some resources:

Dr. Sarah Rainey Smithback Website

Resources and Support through the National MS Society

And finally, as promised, here is a link to Gillian's website. She worked magic with my new website; if you need web work done, contact her. Do it! She's fantastic.

Dr. Sarah Rainey Smithback helps us learn to reframe the idea of caregiving from a burdensome task to an intimate, and even sexy experience. Listen in, you may just experience a major shift when you hear us talk about the "reciprocity of care".

This is the second part of my MS story. I again talk about my new direction and replay a portion of a previous episode with some additional thoughts about how that terrible 2008 episode made me very vulnerable to manipulation and domestic violence. So, be aware that I go into that topic and take care of yourself if you need to.