I live with a disease that worsens with stress. I 'lean out' when I can, but I can't avoid it all.

The author says stress often worsens symptoms that have been at bay for months. Courtesy of Lindsay Karp I have multiple sclerosis, and unfortunately, my symptoms worsen with stress. Whether acute or persistent, the effect stress has on my body is undeniable. While I try to avoid it, it's impossible to eliminate altogether. In 2019, when my son's preschool director called and said, "I think you need to take him to the ER," the phone slid through my limp hands before I caught it. "Is he OK?" I asked frantically, my voice equally as shaky as the rest of my body. "He's bleeding. You should come now." Worsening under stress when I need to function most is a cruel consequence of living with multiple sclerosis (MS). Sitting is the only way to relieve my shaky legs, but I had no time to rest.