On this episode of Living Well with MS, we are excited and honored to have as our guest OMS Chair and charity Founder Linda Bloom, whose personal story arc – going from the depths of despair after receiving her MS diagnosis to finding and realizing a path of realistic hope to healthy life through the OMS Program – mimics the experience of so many members of the OMS community. Linda shares details of her personal story, along with how her journey informed and inspired her to launch a global charity that has positively impacted the lives of many thousands of people with MS around the world.

Questions:

• What it is like to be the Chair of such a unique MS charity as Overcoming MS?
• Can you tell us about your personal experience with MS? How did you deal with your initial diagnosis?
• At what point did you discover Overcoming MS? What were the immediate impacts you felt?
• Once you kept going with the program, what were the changes you experienced longer term?
• You mentioned self-hypnosis, can you tell us a little bit more about that?
• What were some of the biggest challenges you faced in adopting the OMS program, and how did you manage them? What kept you motivated in sticking with the program?
• Tell us about your relationship with Professor George Jelinek, and how it inspired you to found Overcoming MS the charity?
• Why did you decide to found the charity in the UK as opposed to Australia or elsewhere? 
• What were some of the challenges in establishing and growing the charity? Did you face any resistance?
• Tell us about the inspiration you get from the people you’ve met from among the OMS community.
• OMS recently brought on a new CEO, Grazina Berry. How did you manage that transition in leadership after so many years working with the founding CEO?
• How have the OMS team managed the transition?
• What is your vision for OMS? Where would you like to see it be in 5 years? 
• If there are 3 key tips or pieces of advice you could share with anyone new to or considering trying the OMS program, what would they be?

Bio:

Linda Bloom is the Chair of Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis (OMS). A psychologist who specializes in counselling and hypnotherapy, Linda previously held positions at Monash University and the William Angliss Institute of TAFE in Melbourne, Australia, as well as working in private practice. 

In 2002, she was diagnosed with MS following a significant relapse. After attending a retreat held by Professor Jelinek in Melbourne, Australia, she followed the OMS Program and attributes her own healing to this evidence-based approach.

In 2007, Linda moved to the UK where she recognized a gap in the provision of a lifestyle-based approach in MS management, and in 2011 began promoting the OMS approach. She established the OMS charity in June 2012.

She is passionate about empowering people with MS to take control of their own lives and hopes that the program will offer people with MS a new, but realistic way of regaining their health and improving their quality of life. Linda is married, has two children, and lives in central London.

Links:

• Read more about Linda’s story and background here
• Watch Linda’s Story of Hope here
• If you’re looking for an inspirational read, Linda recommends The Gift by Dr. Edith Eva Eger
• Linda is a big fan of The Connection, a documentary about the mind-body connection

Coming up on our next episode:

On the next episode of Living Well with MS, launching April 12, 2021, join us for Coffee Break #15, where Geoff Allix travels (virtually) to Australia to interview plant scientist and plant-based nutrition advocate Rebecca Stonor. Tune in and bring a new shade of green into your life in this lush interview.

Don’t miss out:

Subscribe to this podcast and never miss an episode. You can catch any episode of Living Well with MS here or on your favorite podcast listening app. Don’t be shy – if you like the program, leave a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you tune into the show. And feel free to share your comments and suggestions by emailing [email protected].