For Qwyncile Harris, living with multiple sclerosis has been a journey of learning — learning how to listen to her body, how to set limits, and most importantly, how to give herself grace.

Since she was diagnosed, Qwyncile has had to navigate a range of unpredictable symptoms. Among the most challenging have been brain fog and fatigue, and they’ve affected her in some surprising ways.

Getting Lost on the Familiar Drive Home

Qwyncile described one of the first moments she truly understood the impact of MS-related brain fog. It happened on a drive home — a drive she had taken every day for 15 years. But that day, something was different.

“I was driving one time and could not remember what street to turn down,” she recalled. “It took me a minute to get it together.”

Even though she recognized the area around her, her mind simply couldn’t recall where to go. The realization hit her hard. She thought to herself, “I’ve been living here for 15 years. I will get home. But as of right now, I don’t know the street.’”

“I just burst into tears because I could not remember where to go,” she said. “And I think that was the first time I realized how bad brain fog could be, and it scared me so bad.”

Over time, Qwyncile found that small lifestyle adjustments helped improve her cognitive clarity. “Getting some cardio in during the mornings — a good 15 minutes — and then staying hydrated all day, that really helped my brain fog,” she said.

Fatigue Strikes in the Grocery Store

For those unfamiliar with MS fatigue, Qwyncile described it as more than just feeling tired. It’s an all-encompassing exhaustion that can stop her in her tracks.

“It’s almost as if you’re wearing a heavy comforter [made of] tired,” she explained. “It’s heavy … but you can’t do anything about it.”

One particularly difficult day stands out in her memory. She had already been feeling drained, but she needed to go grocery shopping. Midway through the trip, fatigue hit her like a wall.

“I had to lean on the shelves. I had a buggy, thankfully, and I was just like, ‘Where did I come in here? I know I can’t do this right now.’”

Getting to her car was a struggle, and even once she made it, she couldn’t immediately drive away. “I’m sitting in the car for 10 minutes. I can’t even start the car and actually leave because I’m so tired,” she said. “I eventually got home, but it was a rough day. Something like that is kind of traumatic.”

That experience taught Qwyncile a valuable lesson: pushing through fatigue only makes things worse. Now, she tries not to do exhausting tasks alone. “If I feel it, I don’t go ahead and push it, because it’ll be a whole lot worse if I do,” she said.

Staying Out of the Heat

In addition to brain fog and fatigue, heat has also been a major trigger for Qwyncile. “My husband’s family was having a get-together for July 4th. Just standing up out of the chair was bad,” she remembered. “I was trying to stay hydrated, but it was also like 95 degrees … the arms, the legs, everything. Just nothing wanted to move.”

The experience made her more mindful of how heat affects her body. “I try to stay out of the heat,” she said. “I work from home now, so now that I don’t have to go out as much — anytime it’s summertime, I just know to try to get everything I need at night and stay in with the air conditioning.”

Granting Herself Grace

Through trial and error, Qwyncile has learned to recognize her limits. “Honestly, within this last year, I was able to understand myself and [say to myself], ‘I know you like to push things and get things done. This is how far you can push it before you can’t do anymore,’” she said.

That self-awareness has allowed her to develop a routine that works for her, one that prioritizes her health and well-being. She now listens closely to her body’s signals and respects her limits.

“It’s really important to grant yourself grace when you’re trying to navigate through MS,” she said. “Every little accomplishment is a win … everything. Getting up and making it to the restroom as soon as you wake up — you made it. It’s a win. You got to the grocery store, you got back. It may have taken a little bit longer, but you did it. It’s a win.”

For Qwyncile, that mindset has been essential in facing the ups and downs of MS. “You have to give yourself some grace,” she said.

Despite the challenges, Qwyncile continues to push forward, embracing each victory, big or small. Through it all, she remains grateful — for understanding herself better, for learning to listen to her body, and for the grace that allows her to keep going.

Talk With Others Who Understand

On MyMSTeam, the social network for people with MS and their loved ones, more than 219,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with MS.

Have you had similar experiences of getting lost or having fatigue hit while you are out? Do you have tips for balancing your activities with self-care? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.

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