Welcome to Living Well with MS, the podcast that helps you make informed choices to support your health and wellbeing with MS. This week we delve into stress management and mental health with insights from Overcoming MS facilitators Yasmin Neves and Dr Phil Startin. They are joined by community members Melanie Lown and Bill Morgan, who share their personal experiences.

Meditation has been shown to improve quality of life in people with MS but it’s not always easy to get going. As Phil shares, "When we run Overcoming MS retreats or events, often one of the first questions we ask the group is 'which steps in Overcoming MS do you find the hardest to adopt?' And it's always meditation."

If this resonates with you, tune in to gain valuable perspectives and practical tips to help you manage stress.

Personal experiences with stress management 

00:56 Yasmin introduces herself and dives into the stress management pillar—and why it's key to thriving with MS.

05:26 Phil shares his journey as an Overcoming MS facilitator & meditation teacher and how mindfulness transformed his life.

15:36 Melanie opens up about her Overcoming MS journey and the importance of being kind to yourself while adopting the program.

21:53 Bill reflects on how his MS diagnosis led him to meditation—and why it became a game-changer for his well-being.

Example practices

29:13 Yasmin explores the benefits of gratitude and heart-centered breathing for emotional resilience.

31:02 Phil discusses how slowing down during stressful times can help you regain clarity and balance.

31:47 Melanie shares her top tips for shifting out of “fight or flight” mode and finding calm.

33:59 Bill explains the power of deep breathing and how it can support both mind and body.

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