It does not define my value

I’m going to be completely honest, not to scare anyone, but because I want to share my experience living with MS. Dating and relationships haven’t been easy for me, and pretending otherwise wouldn’t help anyone.

When I was diagnosed in March 2020, the first thing my partner at the time said to me was, “I knew there was something wrong with you.” That sentence stuck with me. We broke up later that year, and from that point on, my outlook on dating changed.

Since then, I’ve met and spoken to different people. And while not everyone is the same, I’ve experienced moments where opening up about my MS has led to people crossing boundaries, making assumptions, or trying to take advantage. Those experiences were hurtful, but they were also eye-opening.

What MS has taught me is this: anyone who sees my diagnosis as a weakness was never meant to have access to me in the first place. My MS is not something to be pitied, fixed, or used against me. It’s part of my story, but it does not define my value!

If you’re dating and wondering when or how to tell someone about your diagnosis, my advice is simple, own it. Speak about it with confidence. Don’t shrink yourself to make someone else comfortable. The right person won’t be scared off by MS; they’ll be curious, respectful, and supportive.

And if someone has an issue with your MS? Let them. That’s not your burden to carry. MS is part of me, but it doesn’t take away from who you are or what you deserve.