of the nation) that drives her.
‘When you could wake up
tomorrow and not be able to
move your legs, it changes
your attitude,’ she says. ‘I’ve
stopped putting things off.’
Trishna
had always
wanted to try
snowboarding,
so off she went
to Switzerland:
‘I spent four
days on my
backside in the snow, but
I had a blast.’
Walking in the Swiss
mountains and exploring Italy
were other goals. ‘I spent two
glorious weeks eating ice
cream and pasta and drinking
wine,‘ she says, ‘as well as
wondering why on earth I’d
put it off for so long. Other
things on my list have been
smaller but significant to me:to eat at a Michelin-starred
restaurant (very nice), go to a
ballet (I’ve now been to more
than I can count) and to party
at Notting Hill Carnival (I did!).
Trishna has worked as
a health
advocate in
the States,
Romania,
Poland and
Western
Europe. She
says, ‘It takes
meticulous planning and the
ability to adapt and change
plans. But people are always
keen to help.
I refuse to see MS as a
negative thing – it was the
trigger I needed to start
enjoying life and become who
I’ve always wanted to be. I’d
rather not have it, but MS has
made me grab life with both
hands and give it a shake.’
Words: tanya pearey
‘I refuse to see
MS as a negative
thing – it was the
trigger I needed’
Real life
✿ For more information, contact the MS Society on
0808 800 8000 or visit mssociety.org.uk.trishna’s top tips
✿Go sticky-note nuts
I’ve always been a big list
maker but when you’ve got
a chronic illness with fatigue,
prioritising is key. It helps
you remember – if you don’t
know what you’ve got to do
in a day, you don’t know how
to prioritise your valuable
energy. It also gives a sense
of achievement.
✿Nurture your mental health
When you’re dealing with
pressing physical symptoms,
mental health can take a
back seat. I’ve had anxiety
and depression – both are
common in people with
chronic illness – but it helps if
you make time to do things
you enjoy every day. Being in
a good place mentally helps
you cope better with pain.
✿Take power naps
Several times a day, I go
somewhere quiet to
recharge. Hours before we
went live on Strictly, I was
sleeping in my dressing room
to conserve energy.
✿Create a support network
Family and friends, work
colleagues, charities,
health professionals,
fellow sufferers, online
communities all have plenty
of places and people you can
go to for help.
✿ Ask for help!
It’s not weak, it’s sensible.
I couldn’t do what I do
without Mum cooking meals,Dad driving me around, my
sisters coming to events and
friends switching their plans
at the last minute.
✿Embrace shortcuts
Try simple tricks like batch-
cooking and freezing for days
when you don’t have the
energy to cook. I’ve learnt
what to do on ‘good’ days to
help me on ‘bad’ ones.
✿Learn to let go – sometimes!
I gave up playing my beloved
hockey because it was too
physically draining. I’d been
doing it since school so it was
hard, but I replaced it with
Zumba, which is more
adaptable, and which
I absolutely love.
✿ Focus on what you
can do...
...not what you can’t. I know
that not everyone with
chronic illness can do the
things I’ve done. They might
not be as well as I’ve been
at times or have certain
opportunities, but there are
things I can’t do that others
can, and opportunities
others have that I don’t.
It’s important to recognise,
accept and adapt.
✿Don’t be afraid to meet
others with your illness
The newly diagnosed often
tell me they’re scared to see
people who may be ‘further
down the line’ with their
illness, and I felt like that at
first. But they’re inspiring
and supportive, and you can
learn so much from them.Coping With ChroniC illnessThe Swiss mountains have
been ticked off the bucket listSnowboarding
was a lifelong
ambition