People who live with chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis may experience more than physical pain and disability. Their illness could also affect their mental health. While sometimes the illness causes mental health issues, more often than not it’s because of the changes brought about by chronic illnesses.
Mental Health and Chronic Disease
If you are used to being active and challenging life head-on, it will be difficult to accept that you may not be able to accomplish what you have before. Work may become too difficult; even doing the small pleasurable things, such as hobbies, may become impossible. As the disease progresses, you may end up isolating yourself from others.
Patricia A. Farrell, PhD, a psychologist in Englewood, N.J., says that “one thing we usually see in anyone with RA is an existing pain syndrome, which then brings on depression, feelings of helplessness, poor self-esteem, irritability, and problems with social interactions.” She continues: “Pain, caused by the physical damage from RA, is also intensified by anxiety, so as anxiety goes up, the ability to tolerate pain goes down. We need to address these psychological and physical elements, and work with the patients’ other treatment providers.”
Another issue that may cause stress for individuals with chronic illnesses is the fear of the unknown, or of what will happen in the future. With diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, people know that their pain probably will get worse, that they’ll become more disabled — but they don’t know when or how disabled they may get.
Some peoples RA is worse than others so they need to lay around more, in fact i didnt get out of bed a few days last week unless it was to use the bathroom...what an excuse huh?
I actually feel better if I get up and stop feeling sorry for myself.
that's a shame the AP isn't quite doing it for you, Pin.
Oooohhhhh, I thought AP was the mircle? Guess it isn't working quite so well huh, if you have to lay in bed all day. It is a proven FACT that exercise and good diet will help with many chronic illnesses. That doesn't mean lying in bed day after day feeling sorry for yourself. NOTE: I said Day after Day, does that include you Pin? Mouthpiece, you just have to get into everything don't you?I actually feel better if I get up and stop feeling sorry for myself.
that's a shame the AP isn't quite doing it for you, Pin.
[/QUOTE]MMMMMM....Feeling sorry for myself I dont think so, its not in my nature to do that. My diet is great thanks Phats, more than I can say for yours. Infact I have lost 8 pound which was the last of the weight i had gained .I was laying in bed as I have chronic anemia induced by RA and neither the TNF's or the AP does anything for it....but other than that the AP is doing it quite wondefull thanks.
Mouthpiece, thats rich coming from you Phats.
Pin,I actually feel better if I get up and stop feeling sorry for myself.
that's a shame the AP isn't quite doing it for you, Pin.
[/QUOTE] [/QUOTE]People who live with chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis may experience more than physical pain and disability. Their illness could also affect their mental health. While sometimes the illness causes mental health issues, more often than not it’s because of the changes brought about by chronic illnesses.
Mental Health and Chronic Disease
If you are used to being active and challenging life head-on, it will be difficult to accept that you may not be able to accomplish what you have before. Work may become too difficult; even doing the small pleasurable things, such as hobbies, may become impossible. As the disease progresses, you may end up isolating yourself from others.
Patricia A. Farrell, PhD, a psychologist in Englewood, N.J., says that “one thing we usually see in anyone with RA is an existing pain syndrome, which then brings on depression, feelings of helplessness, poor self-esteem, irritability, and problems with social interactions.” She continues: “Pain, caused by the physical damage from RA, is also intensified by anxiety, so as anxiety goes up, the ability to tolerate pain goes down. We need to address these psychological and physical elements, and work with the patients’ other treatment providers.”
Another issue that may cause stress for individuals with chronic illnesses is the fear of the unknown, or of what will happen in the future. With diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, people know that their pain probably will get worse, that they’ll become more disabled — but they don’t know when or how disabled they may get.