I love you all to bits, but I really need you to stop trying to help

Paul opens up on MS and hanging on to his independence

- STAFF REPORTER

A family man has told how having honest conversations about his disability has helped him explain to the people in his life when NOT to help him.

Paul McGaw, 47, was diagnosed with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) in 2007.

This MS Awareness Week (April 28 to May 4), Paul is supporting a new national charity campaign, MS Conversations. Spearheaded by a collaboration of the UK's MS charities-MS Society, MS Trust, MS Together, MS-UK, the Neuro Therapy Network, Shift.ms, Overcoming MS, and Talks with MS the campaign aims to encourage people to start conversations about their multiple sclerosis (MS).

More than 17,000 people in Scotland, and more than 150,000 people in the whole of the UK, live with MS.

It's a condition that affects nerves in the brain and spinal cord and impacts how people move, think and feel.

Symptoms are different for everyone and are often invisible. But one thing everyone with MS has in common is that they'll all have conversations about their condition, whether they're explaining it to family members or friends, asking an employer or medical professional for support, or opening up to a new partner.

Those conversations won't always be easy.

That's why the eight charities will be working with members of the MS community throughout MS Awareness Week and sharing resources, tips and real life stories to help make those conversations easier.

Paul, who's married and enjoys close relationships with family members and friends, said he's always spoken openly about his MS.

He believes being upfront about his condition helps to remove pressure and awkwardness from certain situations.

And it's also allowed him to explain to those close to him that sometimes when he appears to be struggling he'd rather they didn't try to help.