On social media, among smiles, sincere stories, and daily routine records, Ana Carolina Rocha Guimarães, 33 years old, administrator, and content creator, shares what she calls her "life with pauses".

Since being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2021, Ana Carolina had to slow down, not by choice, but out of necessity. "I wake up slowly, take my medications, make coffee, and listen to my body. I learned that silence is also care," she says.

Between one cup and another, she learned to respect the timing of each gesture. The cane, affectionately nicknamed Matilda, became her ally, not a symbol of limitation, but of autonomy. "With it, I can go out, explore places, live at my own pace. It gave me back the freedom that fear tried to take away," she says.

The Body that Teaches

Before the diagnosis, uncertainties came. Spasms, fatigue, muscle aches, and energy lapses that seemed to have no explanation. "No one understood what I was feeling. I even doubted my own body," she says.

Multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune disease that interferes with communication between the brain and body, demanded from Ana Carolina something beyond strength: presence.

"I learned to listen to what my body tries to tell me. Vulnerability taught me more than any courage manual," she reflects.

In 2023, guided by her doctor, she started using cannabidiol (CBD) oil as a complementary part of her treatment.

"CBD was a game-changer. I started sleeping better, felt less pain, less fatigue. My leg became firmer, my body more stable. It's as if the weight of the day decreased a little," she says.

The specific medications for multiple sclerosis help prevent new outbreaks, but, according to her, CBD acts on the invisible, on daily discomfort, on silent pain, on fatigue that no one sees. "It brought back my balance. What traditional medicine can't reach, cannabidiol touches gently," she points out.

Despite the benefits, she openly talks about the challenges of access and prejudice. "The cost is still high, and many people are afraid to talk about use. But hiding doesn't help anyone. The more we talk, the more we pave the way for others."

Between Vulnerability and Voice
 

It was on social media that Carol found not only support but purpose. At first, she was afraid of being judged, especially for sharing her cannabis treatment. Today, she turns fear into a bridge.

"Talking about it freed me. I discovered that my story could embrace other people. That there is science, empathy, and life behind medicinal cannabis," she states.

Among posts, conversations, and shares, Ana Carolina uses her voice to remind that living with a chronic condition is not the end of a path, but the beginning of a new rhythm.

"On difficult days, I take a deep breath, hug Romeo, my dog, and remember that love is still here. It is he who teaches me that everything passes, one day at a time," she concludes.

Multiple Sclerosis and CBD as an Aid in Treatment

For family doctor Carolina Rosa, who works at the Hospital de Amor and is a postgraduate student in Psychiatry at the Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto (Famerp), the use of medicinal cannabis represents a new perspective of patient-centered care.

"Cannabidiol has shown promising results in managing symptoms that directly impact quality of life, such as chronic pain, fatigue, anxiety, and sleep disorders. In the case of patients with neurological diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, it can act as an important adjunct to traditional treatment, offering well-being and emotional balance," explains the doctor.

Watch the full video with Dr. Carolina Rosa, who explains in an accessible way how cannabidiol acts on the nervous system and can contribute to a lighter and healthier routine