Simple, Everyday Mood Boosters When You Have MS

Not only can exercise help your body stay healthy and limber, it floods your brain with endorphins -- chemicals that enhance your mood. Find a physical activity that gets your heart pumping. Swimming, jogging, biking, or walking will work. Shoot for at least 150 minutes of exercise each week.

Studies show that music therapy can have a positive impact on your mood. Listening to or playing tunes gives your brain a boost of dopamine -- the brain chemical that helps you feel pleasure. A good song can ease anxiety, depression, and pain, and help you sleep better.

Regular, quality sleep is key for soothing your mind and easing some physical MS symptoms. Naps can boost your mood, too. But be sure they don't keep you from getting your nighttime ZZZs. If your MS makes sleep a struggle, talk to your doctor about ways to help you get the shut-eye you need.

Laughter helps you take in more oxygen, stimulates your circulation, and gets your endorphins (the “feel-good” hormones) flowing. A good guffaw can lower stress and leave you feeling happy and relaxed.

Meditation and mindfulness help you quiet your thoughts, connect your mind to your body, and ground yourself in the here and now. Studies are still going on, but there’s some proof that these practices ease stress, anxiety, and depression.

Schedule weekly get-togethers with friends so you have something to look forward to. Or join a support group. Talking with others who have MS can remind you that you aren't alone.

Deep-breathing exercises release tension in your body and raise your oxygen levels. Combined with mind-quieting techniques like meditation and mindfulness, deep breathing can calm your body and ease stress.

Trained counselors or therapists can help you sort through overwhelming feelings. Regular visits can help you feel relief in the moment, and they can improve your mood over time, too.

Tap into the things you like to do. Paint, read, go to the movies -- anything that makes you happy. Or take up a hobby. Focusing your energy on something new can help redirect your mood for a while.

Yoga is a centuries-old practice that uses specific poses to stretch your body while it clears your mind and centers your actions. Everyone can do some version of it, even if MS limits your movement. Yoga eases anxiety and depression, and it can have other physical benefits, too.

Make a list of places you’d like to visit, books you’ve been meaning to read, or restaurants you want to try, then work to check them each off. Setting small goals and knocking them out gives you a short burst of dopamine.

Not only can keeping a record of your actions and thoughts help you track your MS symptoms, it can also help redirect your mind. Jot down things you’re grateful for, goals you have for the future, and successes you’ve had. It helps you spend time remembering positive things. Writing down your frustrations can help ease tension, too.