Living Well with Multiple Sclerosis

Navigating disability benefits with multiple sclerosis can feel overwhelming – especially when symptoms are invisible, fluctuating and difficult to measure. 

 In this episode, Social Security disability attorney Nancy Cavey speaks to Overcoming MS Program Facilitator Vickie Hadge to explore how MS is assessed in disability claims, when to consider applying, and what steps you can take early to strengthen your case. From documenting symptoms and functional impact to understanding how work, fatigue and cognitive changes are evaluated, this conversation offers practical guidance grounded in real-world experience. 

 You’ll also learn what to expect from the application process, common mistakes to avoid, and why planning ahead – financially and medically – can make a significant difference. 

 This episode focuses on the US disability benefits system, but many of the insights around documenting symptoms, planning ahead and advocating for support may still be helpful wherever you live. 

Watch this episode on YouTube. Keep reading for the topics, timestamps, and our guest’s bio. 

02:11 Nancy’s story – why she specializes in disability law 03:20 When MS symptoms start affecting your ability to work 04:12 How to document MS symptoms for stronger evidence 07:35 How MS disability claims are assessed step by step 10:52 What happens after a disability claim is denied 11:40 Proving fatigue and cognitive symptoms in MS claims 13:09 Can you work part-time and still claim benefits? 16:43 How mental health symptoms are considered in MS cases 19:08 Common mistakes people make when applying for disability 20:38 Workplace benefits vs government disability support explained 23:24 Financial planning for a long disability application process 24:04 Early steps to protect your future disability claim 26:18 Why your doctor’s support can make or break a claim 

Visit Nancy’s Website 

Follow Nancy on YouTube 

Listen to Nancy’s Podcast 

New to Overcoming MS? Learn why lifestyle matters in MS - begin your journey at our 'Get started' page

Connect with others following Overcoming MS on the Live Well Hub

Visit the Overcoming MS website

Follow us on social media:

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

Pinterest

Don’t miss out:

Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS here.

Make sure you sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS.

Support us:
If you enjoy this podcast and want to help us continue creating future podcasts, please leave a donation here.

Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing [email protected].

If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review.

Making lifestyle changes with MS is one thing. Making them stick is another. In this episode of Living Well with MS, we speak with pharmacist-turned-health coach Dr Amy Behimer about why healthy habits can feel so difficult, especially when fatigue, stress and unpredictable symptoms get in the way. Drawing on her own experience of living with primary progressive MS, Amy shares a compassionate, evidence-informed approach to building habits that feel realistic, flexible and supportive in daily life.

Together, we explore the role of mindset in behaviour change, how to avoid all-or-nothing thinking, why perfectionism can backfire, and how to create routines that work on both good days and bad. If you feel overwhelmed by lifestyle change, this episode offers practical encouragement to help you start small and keep going.

Watch this episode on YouTube. Keep reading for the topics, timestamps, and our guest’s bio.

02:25 Amy’s MS journey and why habits became her focus
05:05 The six areas that shape health with MS
09:46 Why healthy habits are harder than they seem
13:38 Building habits when fatigue and symptoms are unpredictable
16:03 How mindset and emotions shape behaviour change
18:29 The real secret to living well with MS
22:25 Why perfectionism makes healthy habits harder to sustain
25:25 Can self-talk affect day-to-day energy and symptoms?
29:18 Creating flexible routines for good days and bad
30:53 Common habit traps and how to avoid them
33:10 Redefining health when you cannot control your diagnosis
34:58 Where to start when lifestyle change feels overwhelming
37:57 A simple daily practice to make change easier

Take Amy’s habit quiz

Listen to Amy’s podcast

Learn more about Amy’s work

New to Overcoming MS? Learn why lifestyle matters in MS - begin your journey at our 'Get started' page

Connect with others following Overcoming MS on the Live Well Hub

Visit the Overcoming MS website

Follow us on social media:

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

Pinterest

Don’t miss out:

Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS here.

Make sure you sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS.

Support us:
If you enjoy this podcast and want to help us continue creating future podcasts, please leave a donation here.

Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing [email protected].

If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review.

What does it really mean to live well with multiple sclerosis over the long term? In this episode, we’re joined by writer, podcaster and MS advocate Ardra Shephard, creator of Tripping On Air and author of Fallosophy: My Trip Through Life with MS. Ardra shares her journey from diagnosis in her early twenties to becoming a powerful voice in the MS community.

Together, we explore the realities of visible symptoms, stigma and learning to adapt when life doesn’t go to plan. Ardra reflects on why she chose to share her story publicly, the role of humour in coping with chronic illness, and how her memoir brings honesty and vulnerability to the MS experience.

She also discusses identity, relationships, and the importance of representation through her work in podcasting and adaptive fashion.

This conversation is a reminder that while MS can be challenging, it’s still possible to build a meaningful, joyful life.

Keep reading for the key episode takeaways and Ardra’s bio.

00:00 Introduction to Ardra and her MS journey
02:55 Why she shared her MS story publicly
06:00 Using humour to cope with chronic illness realities
09:08 Podcasting, relationships and the wider impact of MS
11:55 Changing representation through adaptive fashion and media
14:54 Key lesson: creating joy while living with MS

Connect with Ardra:

trippingonair.com

com/ms_trippingonair/

facebook.com/trippingonair/

New to Overcoming MS? Learn why lifestyle matters in MS - begin your journey at our 'Get started' page

Connect with others following Overcoming MS on the Live Well Hub

Visit the Overcoming MS website

Follow us on social media:

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

Pinterest

Don’t miss out:

Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS here.

Make sure you sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS.

Support us:
If you enjoy this podcast and want to help us continue creating future podcasts, please leave a donation here.

Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing [email protected].

If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review.

Welcome to Living Well with MS podcast, where we are joined by Alison Potts. Alison is a meditation coach, wellbeing mentor, meditation teacher-trainer writer and teacher in self-care, meditation, and wellness. Largely due to her own healing journey with MS, she is passionate about teaching the power of cherishing our individuality and intuition, sharing practices to connection to our innate states of freedom, healing, creativity, spontaneity and joy. 

Originally broadcast in 2020, this episode has been edited to remove out-of-date content and reuploaded in 2026 to ensure it remains relevant and useful.

01:24 Tell us about yourself and your with MS and the Overcoming MS program 

07:17 What is your relationship to meditation? What’s Innate Being? 

18:36 What are the main obstacles you find people face in getting into a regular meditation practice? 

23:14 Tips for getting into good meditation practice? 

33:28 Top hacks for getting into the meditation groove and making it a healthy habit 

44:27 Alison conducts a mini guided meditation (5m) 

52:42 Any final words of wisdom or thoughts on embracing a meditation practice?

What role can diet play in autoimmune health, and what does the science say about plant-based eating and multiple sclerosis?

In this episode of Living Well with MS, we speak with Dr Elizabeth George, a board-certified family physician and co-founder of the Healthy Eating Adventure programme. With more than 40 years of experience in preventive care, she shares why she began exploring the impact of diet on chronic disease and autoimmune conditions.

The conversation explores the growing research linking whole-food plant-based diets, inflammation and the gut microbiome. Dr George explains how fibre-rich plant foods support beneficial gut bacteria, which produce compounds that help maintain gut health and influence immune function.

We also discuss practical ways people can start eating more plant-based foods, the importance of community support when making lifestyle changes, and how to have constructive conversations about diet with healthcare professionals.

Keep reading for the key episode takeaways and Dr George’s bio.

02:38 – Why a family physician turned to plant-based medicine
05:22 – The community experiment that launched a 28-day plant-based programme
09:53 – Can plant-based diets influence autoimmune conditions like MS?
11:42 – Gut microbiome, fibre and the link to inflammation
14:26 – Why most doctors receive little nutrition education in training
16:08 – Real patient stories of lifestyle change and chronic disease improvement
18:37 – Simple ways to start eating more whole plant foods
20:45 – How community groups help people sustain lasting lifestyle changes
24:38 – Talking to your doctor about diet and lifestyle choices
27:48 – Making plant-based cooking easy, enjoyable and family-friendly

Connect with Dr Elizabeth George

Follow Dr George on Facebook

New to Overcoming MS? Learn why lifestyle matters in MS - begin your journey at our 'Get started' page

Connect with others following Overcoming MS on the Live Well Hub

Visit the Overcoming MS website

Follow us on social media:

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

Pinterest

Don’t miss out:

Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. Listen to our archive of Living Well with MS here.

Make sure you sign up to our newsletter to hear our latest tips and news about living a full and happy life with MS.

Support us:
If you enjoy this podcast and want to help us continue creating future podcasts, please leave a donation here.

Feel free to share your comments and suggestions for future guests and episode topics by emailing [email protected].

If you like Living Well with MS, please leave a 5-star review.