Through Faith, Choose Joy

A reader recently asked me how to stay positive through Myasthenia Gravis (MG). My response is below, but first, let’s talk about why it’s so easy to get depressed from this strange disease.

There are several components that can lead to depression with MG. Foremost is the fact that it’s typically a life-long illness for which there currently is no cure. That, in itself, is enough to bring people down. Couple that with the fact that you find yourself unable to do things you used to be able to do, some of which you greatly enjoyed. The third component is also quite daunting and that’s the fact that a person with MG doesn’t know what the future will bring. Myasthenia Gravis is a progressive disease, and symptoms can worsen over time. With all that said, it’s no wonder that someone with MG can easily get depressed. 

The problem with depression in Myasthenia Gravis is it can actually make the severity of MG worse. Effects can include:

• Increased symptom severity and exacerbations/relapses: Higher baseline depression or stress has been linked to more relapses or longer exacerbations of symptoms. Patients often report that stress and low moods can trigger or intensify weakness, vision problems, speech/swallowing issues, and other MG symptoms.
• Poorer treatment adherence and self-management: Depression can reduce motivation, energy, concentration, and hope, making it harder to stick with medications, appointments, lifestyle adjustments, or symptom monitoring.
• Immune and physiological effects: Psychological stress and depression may influence immune function or inflammatory responses which can aggravate autoimmune activity in MG. Overlapping symptoms (fatigue, reduced energy, sleep issues, concentration problems) can also make it harder to distinguish or manage your condition.
• Reduced quality of life: Depression amplifies the burden of physical limitations, social withdrawal, work/relationship difficulties, and isolation common in MG. It’s linked to higher perceived disease severity and can increase caregiver burden. Cognitive effects of depression may further compound any MG-related fatigue or “brain-fog”.

There are all sorts of things a person with MG who is experiencing depression can do to get themselves out of a “funk”. They can seek professional help, they can build and maintain a social support network, they can learn methods to help them handle stress, they can attempt to maintain a positive attitude, and they can turn to God.

I find that a combination of turning to God and working to maintain a positive attitude is what works best for me. I understand that without God, I would be helpless, but I also understand I must put forth a little effort, too. I’ve learned that joy is not dependent on circumstances; it’s rooted in God’s presence. His word and promises strengthen me, not by removing every challenge, but by helping me through those challenges. Faith helps me persevere and I find myself handling challenges more effectively because I’m willing to face them head-on knowing God is by my side.

I find that when I walk with God and stay connected with Him through my journey, He provides me a steady source of strength. Instead of experiencing fleeting emotions, I gain perseverance through the strength He provides and that perseverance brings me Joy. It means I’m invested. Sometimes joy doesn’t come easily. I’ve found you must choose it and make it a priority in your life. When I choose joy, through faith, there’s no room for depression in my life.

That’s the way I answered this person. I’m not sure they are a person of faith, but that’s what works best for me. I’m not a doctor. I can’t provide clinical advice, but I can provide what works best for me. I can also share my faith because my faith is what helps me through. God gives me strength which allows me to find joy. 

Nothing says it better than Romans 15:13: 

“Now may the God of hope fill you all with joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in the hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”