First and third Tuesday of every month at 7pm
Welcome to our New to MS Peer Pod. This pod has been created for those recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) or only just feeling ready to engage and reach out. Here, you will find a community of understanding and compassionate individuals who are here to offer support, share experiences, and provide encouragement as you navigate this new chapter in your life.
Peer support offers a multitude of benefits, including
Connecting with others who are going through similar experiences can provide a sense of comfort and understanding that can help alleviate feelings of isolation and loneliness.
By sharing your journey with others and hearing about their experiences, you can gain valuable insights, tips, and coping strategies for managing the challenges of living with MS.
Being part of a supportive community can help you feel empowered and motivated to take control of your health and wellbeing.
Peer support groups can be a valuable source of information about MS, treatment options, lifestyle changes, and resources available to help you manage your condition effectively.
Building connections with others who truly understand what you’re going through can lead to lasting friendships and a sense of camaraderie that can make your journey with MS feel less daunting.
It is our hope that by joining our supportive and caring community, you will feel able to face the challenges of MS with strength and resilience (and perhaps even a little humour!)
If you are interested in joining this or any of our Peer Pods, or would like more information, please fill in our enquiry form by clicking the button below. Vicky, our Peer Support Coordinator will be in touch with you shortly.
G’day! I’m Fiona and I was diagnosed with Secondary Progressive MS in mid-2023. Thankfully just now it is non-active. My journey has been an international one of trying to figure out what was “wrong” with me for over a decade now and it turned out to just be MS. Unfortunately, that meant picking up my brain and plopping it into a nice new healthy body won’t work.
Being diagnosed in a new country has been a ridiculous challenge. Navigating the system and getting information has been at times a frustrating and somewhat traumatic experience of being hopeful and then crushed over and over. It is confusing and heart breaking, and most people around you don’t seem to fully understand but these peer pods bring a sense of normality. Being able to talk about challenges, comparing notes or laughing about our favourite things is fantastic.
Having somewhere to ask all the awkward, what feel like silly, and selfish questions is something I would have liked early on, so when Rory asked if I would help create that space I couldn’t say no.
I am still learning about MS, as is everyone in these peer pods, but being able to help relieve the anxiety for others in their first steps of navigating how to manage their MS is so rewarding and it’s nice to give back to the organisation who helped me find my feet again.
Hi, I’m Rory and I was diagnosed with Primary Progressive MS in 2014. Back then I didn’t know anybody that had the condition and as an analyst I would spend lots of time on the internet trying to find information. How different my journey would have been if I could have spoken to other people like me who “just get it”!
When the old “Newly Diagnosed” pod switched to being a regular drop in pod, I decided it was vital that those who were New to MS had a place to go in order to have their questions answered and their concerns addressed. By combining forces with Fiona, although we won’t be able to answer every question, we will be able to help you to understand your condition better and places to go to in order to get answers.
I am also the host of the Sunday Afternoon pod and regularly cover hosting duties for both the Monday afternoon and the MS and Work peer pods.
Outside of the pods I am heavily involved in Parkrun and no matter where I am in the world you will find me at an event every Saturday and Sunday morning.
I look forward to helping you on your MS journey.
