Through the MS Looking Glass: Navigating the Unseen

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a lifelong neurological condition that can cause a variety of symptoms. While visible symptoms, such as difficulty walking, are more easily recognised, individuals with MS often experience "invisible" symptoms that are not immediately noticeable, such as brain fog, fatigue, and sensory disturbances. These invisible symptoms can be particularly challenging because they are not outwardly apparent, leading to misunderstandings, a lack of support, and difficulty explaining them to others.

This comic explores the impact of these invisible symptoms on daily life by illustrating the emotional and psychological toll of experiencing symptoms that others cannot see. It follows the journey of Poppy, and through a dream she has, she learns what the reality of living with MS invisible symptoms is like for her friend Ally, who has MS. The comic aims to raise awareness of the complexity of MS and the need for greater empathy and understanding of how invisible symptoms are perceived and supported. The team involved in creating this resource included: MS consultants and health professionals, MS information and communication specialists and comic creators, to help make the unseen, seen.

This health comic was created as part of the PhD research project - Comics & Health: Informing and Evaluating the Design of Public Health Information Comics, exploring how comics can be used to make public health information engaging and accessible.