Explaining Multiple Sclerosis to Family and Friends

So, what should you say instead? Of course, those who do not already have a basis of understanding multiple sclerosis will probably have many questions about how it works. Be prepared to answer them, but do not go off on tangents that go into all the details. Instead, find a basic explanation that you can use, and other than that leave it to answering any questions that the person may have about the disease. One of the best simple explanations is "the central nervous system is like a system of electrical cords that allows my brain to send messages to my nerves, which control my body and its functions. A fatty tissue called myelin covers those cords like insulation and ensures complete message transmission. For unknown reasons, my body's immune system is attacking the myelin, which means parts of my body don't function properly anymore."