You may know Dan and Jennifer Digmann from A couple takes on MS, their multiple sclerosis website, blog, and podcast. I first heard the name Dan Digmann (actually Dan & Jen Digmann) around 2013 when I began writing this blog. We chatted on occasion over Twitter about being MS warriors. Then we talked about their home state of Michigan because that is where I grew up. They even pointed me to the Holland Tulip Festival I attended in May 2022.
To me, Dan and Jen are the faces of the MS awareness movement. They don’t think so, but I do because they have continued to participate in many events sharing information about living with multiple sclerosis. One of these days, I plan to cross paths with them in person.
Dan Digmann has a new article in the MS Focus Magazine called “7 ways to extinguish MS-induced anger.” (Digmann) Like me, Dan is an optimist who finds “the bright sides of any negative situation that comes” his way. Despite
his smile and determination to live with an “optimistic outlook and immeasurable sense of gratitude for everything that is good,” in his life, he experiences what he calls MS anger.
MS anger likely lives in most MS patients. The fact is, life is different for MS warriors, and not always in a good way. Oh, I have counted the blessings in my life from MS on occasion, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t lose anything I valued because of my illness. I don’t have that P.h.D. I planned on, and I never had the opportunity to be a superintendent of schools as I had expected. MS has stolen moments, made things more difficult, and changed my life in ways I probably don’t even realize.
I seldom lose control of my anger. I might huff when things aren’t going right, but for the most part, I’m easy going. I’ve learned not to let things build up. I confront issues when they are minor to avoid having them get out of control. When I’m extremely upset, I give myself a moment or time out to avoid saying something that will make the situation worse.
It’s amazing how taking a few extra minutes to calm down and think about the issues can defuse the situation. I often remind myself of the blessings in my life.
Rather than reveal how Dan controls his MS anger, I’ll point you to his MS Focus Magazine article. Excellent job, Dan! You can also follow Dan and Jen on Twitter @DanJenDig and check out their podcast on A Couple Takes on MS.
In the News
Deborah Petrina‘s book (Amazon affiliate link) Managing MS received an honorable mention from the Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards 2022 in the non-fiction/reference category. I read her book last summer and chose it for the July 2022 Book of the Month. You can read my review here.
It’s not easy being an independently published author, I know. Way to go, Debbie!
This week, I recorded my first video book review on my personal YouTube channel, Author Melissa Cook. I plan to post more book reviews and bits of history I uncover as I research my next book project. Stay tuned for more videos.
Resources
Digmann, Dan. “7 ways to extinguish MS-induced anger.” MS Focus Magazine. https://msfocusmagazine.org/Magazine/Magazine-Items/Exclusive-Content/2022/7-ways-to-extinguish-MS-induced-anger. (accessed December 17, 2022).
No-Name. Christmas-Winter-Season. Pixabay.com https://pixabay.com/illustrations/christmas-winter-season-snow-3864552/. (accessed 12/20/22).
