The Things You Can’t Always See: Spotlighting World MS Day

Namaskar, Happy Minds! You know us—we love using our Inclusion Calendar to dive into topics that get us thinking, talking, and seeing things from a different perspective.

This week, we’re spotlighting something that often goes unnoticed—quite literally. There are so many health conditions that don’t show up in obvious ways. We’re used to noticing a limp, a cast, a wheelchair—but what about the things we can’t see? The pain that isn’t visible. The exhaustion that doesn’t show. The brain fog that isn’t obvious until someone stumbles over a word or forgets a detail.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of those conditions. It can change someone’s life completely—and often quietly. It’s unpredictable, often invisible, and widely misunderstood. And that’s exactly why World MS Day is worth pausing on. Because it gives us a moment to reflect, learn, and better understand the realities of living with MS. So without further ado, let’s dive in.

What is Multiple Sclerosis?  

MS is a lifelong neurological condition that affects the brain and central nervous system. It disrupts how messages travel between the brain and the rest of the body, which can affect movement, balance, vision, and more. There are treatments and ways to manage symptoms, but currently, no cure.

The name itself offers clues: ‘Sclerosis’ means scarring and refers to the nerve damage caused by MS. ‘Multiple’ reflects the fact that this damage can occur in more than one place.

It’s estimated that more than 150,000 people in the UK live with MS, and around 135 more people are diagnosed each week. That’s nearly one person every hour.

Living with MS 

It’s only in recent years that I’ve started to understand what MS really means in someone’s life.

A good while ago, I worked with a lovely woman, S, who was around my age. S had just received her diagnosis in her twenties, though at the time, I didn’t really understand what that meant. My knowledge of MS stretched about as far as a dramatic storyline I vaguely remembered from Neighbours, when Susan Kennedy was diagnosed. It felt like something distant—televised, dramatic, and somehow separate from real life.

Fast forward to this year—15 years on—and I saw a photo my old colleague had shared on Facebook. She’s now in her thirties and adjusting to life with a walking stick. Something about that image stayed with me.

It made me realise just how much can happen behind the scenes. The quiet journey she’s been on. The countless adjustments. The time off work. The relentless fatigue. The letting go of how things used to be—and learning how to move through the world in a new way.

And then there’s the stick itself. A tool of support, yes—but also something people tend to project assumptions onto. People might see it and assume frailty, or think they suddenly understand the whole story. They don’t see the strength it took to start using it. Or the choice involved in showing up with it, visibly, in a world that doesn’t always welcome difference.

MS: Seen and Unseen 

MS affects the nervous system, disrupting how the brain and body communicate. For some, it means visible changes—mobility issues, tremors, or slurred speech. For others, it’s more hidden: pain, vision problems, sensory changes, brain fog. It can come and go, flare up unexpectedly, or slowly progress.

It’s also deeply personal. No two people’s experiences of MS are exactly alike, and that’s part of what makes it so difficult—for those living with it, and for those around them trying to understand.

Myths: What MS Isn’t 

There are still a lot of myths and misunderstandings about MS. Some people wonder if they caused their MS or if there was something they could have done to prevent it. The answer is: no.

The causes of MS are still not fully understood. It’s likely that a number of different factors come together to trigger it. Genetics may play a role, but they’re only part of the picture—researchers believe genes make up around half the risk of developing MS.

This uncertainty can make it harder for people to come to terms with their diagnosis. It’s not about blame. It’s about support.

The Pressure to Be ‘Fine’ 

One of the things S once said to me was that the hardest part wasn’t always the symptoms. It was the pressure to seem okay. To keep showing up. To not be “the difficult one.” To not need to explain why she was tired, or why she cancelled plans again, or why she needed to sit down mid-way through a conversation.

There’s a kind of emotional labour that comes with having an invisible condition—navigating people’s reactions, assumptions, and questions. It can be exhausting.

What Real Support Looks Like 

If you know someone with MS (or any invisible illness), the best support doesn’t come from big gestures—it’s in the small stuff. Believing them. Trusting their boundaries. Offering flexibility without making it feel like a favour. Not asking them to prove their pain or justify their needs.

It’s about normalising rest. Normalising difference. And being someone who makes life a little easier—not harder—to navigate.

If you’d like to learn more about MS, spread awareness, or better understand the condition, here are some helpful places to start:

• MS Society UK: Offers support, research updates, and practical advice for people living with MS and their families.
• MS Trust: A UK charity providing trusted information and resources for living with MS.
• MS NZ: Supporting people living with MS across New Zealand through advocacy, education, and resources.