Practicing Emotional Agility When Living with MS

Introduction

How to Acknowledge, Navigate, and Thrive with Your Emotions—Even on the Hard Days

Living with multiple sclerosis (MS) is a constant dance between unpredictability and adaptation. One day you may feel energized and optimistic, the next completely overwhelmed by fatigue, fear, or frustration. The emotional swings aren’t just frustrating—they can feel like they’re controlling your life.

This is where emotional agility comes in.

Coined by Harvard psychologist Dr. Susan David, emotional agility is the ability to navigate life’s inner world with curiosity, compassion, and courage. It’s about responding to your emotions in a healthy way—especially when they’re messy, painful, or uncomfortable.

For people living with MS, emotional agility can be a game-changer.

In this article, you’ll learn:

What emotional agility is and why it matters
How MS challenges emotional balance
Practical strategies to build emotional agility
Tools for navigating emotional triggers with grace and flexibility

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🧠 What Is Emotional Agility?

Emotional agility is not about “thinking positive” or suppressing your feelings. Instead, it’s about:

Noticing your emotions without getting hooked by them
Creating space between stimulus and response
Choosing your actions based on values, not on emotional reactivity

In other words, you can feel angry, sad, or afraid—without becoming anger, sadness, or fear.

This doesn’t make the feelings go away. It helps you relate to them differently, giving you power over how you respond.

⚡ Why Is Emotional Agility So Important in MS?

MS doesn’t just impact the body. It alters your sense of self, your lifestyle, and your relationships. It introduces uncertainty, which can lead to:

Anxiety about the future
Grief over lost abilities
Anger toward your body
Shame or guilt for needing help
Mood swings due to neurological changes

Without emotional agility, these emotions can:

Dictate your decisions
Lead to emotional avoidance or suppression
Trigger depression or chronic stress
Damage relationships and self-esteem

Emotional agility helps you stay grounded—especially when MS throws curveballs.

🧩 Emotional Agility vs. Emotional Rigidity

Let’s break down the difference:

Emotionally Agile Thinking	Emotionally Rigid Thinking
“This flare is hard, but I’ve made it through before.”	“This flare means I’m getting worse forever.”
“I feel scared. I’ll sit with that and still follow through on what matters to me.”	“I feel scared, so I’ll avoid everything and shut down.”
“Asking for help makes me feel vulnerable, and I can do it anyway.”	“If I ask for help, I’m weak.”

🧭 4 Key Components of Emotional Agility (According to Dr. Susan David)

1. Showing Up

This means acknowledging your emotions—without judgment or denial.

Instead of:

“I shouldn’t feel this way.”

Try:

“I notice I’m feeling anxious and frustrated today.”

Awareness is the first step toward emotional freedom.

2. Stepping Out

Create space between you and your emotions. You are not your thoughts or feelings—you are the observer of them.

Techniques to “step out”:

Label emotions: “This is anxiety,” not “I’m anxious.”
Use metaphors: “I’m noticing a storm cloud of sadness.”
Write your thoughts down—externalizing helps you detach.

3. Walking Your Why

Emotional agility is about acting in alignment with your values—even when emotions are strong.

Ask yourself:

What really matters to me right now?
What kind of person do I want to be in this moment?

Your values become your compass—guiding you even in emotional storms.

4. Moving On

This doesn’t mean ignoring your emotions. It means choosing actions that align with your deeper goals rather than reacting on autopilot.

Emotional agility allows you to respond—not just react.

🧘 How to Practice Emotional Agility with MS: A Step-by-Step Guide

Let’s translate the theory into everyday life. Here’s a framework to help you practice emotional agility on hard MS days:

Step 1: Notice What You’re Feeling

Slow down. Check in with yourself.

Ask:

What emotion is present?
Where do I feel it in my body?
What thoughts are connected to it?

📝 Try a daily “mood log” for 2 minutes. Write down the emotion, intensity (1-10), and any physical sensations.

Step 2: Name It to Tame It

Labeling emotions activates the rational part of your brain and reduces overwhelm.

Say:

“This is sadness.”
“I feel angry and disappointed.”
“This is uncertainty, and it’s okay to not have all the answers.”

The goal is not to fix the emotion—it’s to honor it.

Step 3: Create Space with Self-Compassion

Don’t judge your feelings. Don’t rush them. Instead, offer yourself kindness:

💬 “This is hard, and I’m doing my best.”
💬 “I’m allowed to feel what I feel.”
💬 “Other people with MS go through this too. I’m not alone.”

Self-compassion calms the nervous system and builds resilience.

Step 4: Choose a Values-Based Action

Now that you’ve created emotional space, ask:

👉 “What action can I take that aligns with the kind of person I want to be?”

Examples:

If your value is connection, text a friend.
If your value is self-respect, take a nap instead of pushing through.
If your value is growth, do 5 minutes of journaling or stretching.

The action doesn’t have to be big—just meaningful.

🌧️ Examples of Emotional Agility in MS Scenarios

🔁 Situation: A Flare-Up Ruins Your Plans

Emotion: Disappointment, anger, sadness
Rigid Reaction: Cancel everything, isolate, spiral into negative thoughts
Agile Response: “I feel deep disappointment. I’ll rest now, and later I’ll reschedule what I can. My worth isn’t defined by productivity.”

🧍Situation: Needing to Use a Mobility Aid

Emotion: Embarrassment, fear of judgment
Rigid Reaction: Refusing to use it and risking a fall
Agile Response: “I’m feeling vulnerable. Using this aid supports my independence. My safety matters more than others’ opinions.”

💬 Situation: A Friend Makes an Insensitive Comment

Emotion: Hurt, anger
Rigid Reaction: Lash out or silently cut them off
Agile Response: “That comment hurt. I’m choosing to educate them and express how it felt. I value clear, respectful communication.”

🛠️ Tools to Build Emotional Agility

Here are practices you can incorporate weekly to strengthen your emotional flexibility:

1. Journaling Prompts

What emotion came up strongly this week? What was it trying to tell me?
When did I react vs. respond?
What values helped guide me this week?

2. Mindfulness & Meditation Apps

Insight Timer
Headspace
Ten Percent Happier

Even 5 minutes a day increases awareness and reduces emotional reactivity.

3. Therapy Modalities

ACT (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy): Teaches you to “feel and move” instead of “fight and avoid”
CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy): Helps identify and reframe thought patterns
IFS (Internal Family Systems): Encourages compassion toward all parts of yourself—including the angry, scared, or sad ones

Looking for online therapy? Click here.