The Weight of Fatigue

I used to think naps were for lazy people. Then MS showed me what real fatigue feels like.

One of the most common — and most misunderstood — symptoms of MS is fatigue. Not the kind of tired you can shake off with coffee or willpower, but a deep, indescribable exhaustion. It isn’t something you can push through. Sometimes, you simply have to surrender and sleep.

At one time in my life, I thought anyone over the age of eight who still took naps was just being lazy. Well, God certainly showed me otherwise.

There were days when I would fall asleep sitting straight up. Sometimes those naps lasted for hours. But here’s the truth: the brain heals when it rests. Mine was working so hard to recover that it needed every ounce of downtime it could get. Eventually, my entire day split itself into two parts: before my nap and after my nap.

In the mornings, I went to yoga classes and focused on brain–body connection exercises. They looked silly from the outside, but they were intensely complex for my healing brain. One exercise, for example, was picking up objects with my toes and passing them into my hand. It may sound simple, but it engaged multiple motor and cognitive functions at once. Movements like that spark neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to form new connections—because they challenge it in ways it’s not used to.

I also practiced Spanish, watched Spanish TV, read cookbooks, and experimented with new recipes. Anything I could think of to stretch my brain, I did. After my nap, I’d shift into visualization: imagining myself doing difficult physical activities like standing on one leg or balancing like a ballerina. Day after day, I exercised my mind—because I knew my brain was what needed healing, and until it grew stronger, my body would remain limited.

And guess what? It worked. I’d love to say the turnaround happened in weeks, but the truth is it took years. And I’m still working at it every day. When I encounter something difficult, I don’t avoid it—I dive in. Just this past year, I’ve learned to build websites, fix the horn on a truck, open an online retail store, and so much more. Every new challenge stretches my brain’s capacity.

Today, my brain doesn’t tire the way it used to. Like a muscle, it’s grown stronger and gained stamina. I no longer need daily naps. Instead, I try to meditate and pray, which gives my mind the rest it craves.

All of this is empowering. To take control of your health, to show up for it daily, and to actually witness your mind and body growing stronger—that is empowerment.

Fatigue once dictated my life, but now I’m the one writing the script. Every day I choose growth, resilience, and healing. That’s how I flip the script on MS.

Share the Light.

Christi