Coping with Emotional Side effects

More Than A Feeling

Dealing with the emotional side of arthritis

Arthritis is a Pain

It’s not just your joints that hurt; arthritis is also hard on your emotions

Emotional 911

Help for dealing with the emotional aspects of arthritis

Jodi Helmer

Heidi Solomon often needs help buttoning her shirts, loading groceries into her car and loosening the lid on the spaghetti jar. These are just a few of the dozens of small adjustments that Solomon has made since she was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) at age 15.

Solomon knew it would be difficult to adjust to the stiffness, fatigue and swelling but she had no idea that she’d also be dealing with emotional issues associated with having a chronic disease.

“In the beginning, I felt like something was wrong with me,” recalls Solomon, a 30-year-old professional organizer from Boston. “It was an emotional roller coaster. It took a lot of time to accept that I was diagnosed with a chronic illness and deal with the feelings that came with the diagnosis.”

Arthritis affects more than just the joints. The disease stirs up a lot of emotions, too. It’s common to experience a range of emotions from shock and disbelief to fear and anger – but keeping those negative emotions from taking over is an important part of managing arthritis. Negative emotions like fear and anger can actually worsen pain, according to research published in the academic journal, Arthritis and Rheumatism.

“There is a huge emotional component to being diagnosed with a chronic illness like arthritis,” notes Elinor Mody, M.D., director of the Women’s Orthopedic and Joint Disease Center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. “Patients often have to make major lifestyle changes to adjust to life with the disease and that can be a very difficult process.”

It’s not all bad news. Solomon is the first one to point out that arthritis has had a positive impact on her life. In 2006, she started her own professional organizing business after struggling to find a boss who understood her need for regular medical appointments and a flexible schedule. Arthritis has also allowed Solomon to engage in activities she might otherwise not have tried.

Last winter, when her friends invited her to go snowboarding, Solomon admits that it would have been easier to say no. Instead of sitting at home feeling sorry for herself, she jumped in the car with her friends and went snowshoeing while they raced down the mountain. Later, they all met in the lodge to catch up.

“It would be so much easier to focus on what I’ve lost,” she says. “Instead, I made the choice to focus on what I have gained; arthritis has opened my eyes to new possibilities.”

Focus on the Positive

There are times when living with arthritis means renting a DVD instead of going to the movies with friends, being too sore to dance at a wedding or not taking part in the mother-daughter softball team. The trick is figuring out how to deal with these setbacks in a positive way instead of letting them get you down.

Just ask Kim Fuller.

Fuller has been living with rheumatoid arthritis for the past seven years. During that time, she has dealt with pain and fatigue and had to give up activities like running. The challenges do get her down sometimes but the 47-year-old public affairs consultant from Tulsa has learned to focus on the good things in her life.

After being diagnosed with arthritis, Fuller traded her running for walking and has been a leading fundraiser in the annual Arthritis Walk for the past four years – an event that has introduced her to a number of new friends. She also takes advantage of instant pick-me-ups when she is feeling down.

“I’ve learned that doing things I like makes me feel better almost instantly,” she says. “I make appointments for facials or manicures and it helps me break out of a funk on bad days.”

As Fuller has discovered, when it comes to having arthritis, attitude is everything. Studies show that having a positive attitude might be a form of mental medicine for dealing with a chronic illness. In addition to improving feelings of overall wellbeing, researchers at Arizona State University in Tempe found that women with osteoarthritis or fibromyalgia who maintained positive attitudes reported lower levels of pain.

Make Time to Talk

Living with arthritis raises a lot of questions: “Is there a cure?” “How is the disease going to progress?” “What medications are available?” Perhaps the most common question has nothing at all to do with the prognosis.

“Almost all patients ask the same question: ‘Why me?’” says Mody. “It’s common for patients to break down in tears and feel very angry at the same time.”

Anger and fear are common among patients who have just been diagnosed with arthritis and those who have been living with it for years. Reassurance and education can help mitigate those feelings, which is why physicians often recommend literature, support groups and referrals to therapists. In fact, not joining a support group after her diagnosis is one of the biggest regrets Solomon has when it comes to dealing with the emotional impact of the disease.

“I was in denial that something was wrong so I refused to join a support group,” she recalls. “Looking back, I realize that one of the things I needed most was to be with others who understood what I was going through.”

Today, Solomon has weekly sessions with a therapist and believes that the support is helpful for dealing with the emotional issues that arise from living with arthritis. The sessions have taught her to accept the disease and its impact on her life, the importance of asking for help and the value of counting her blessings.

“I’ve learned that living with arthritis doesn’t mean that my life is diminished; it just means that I do things differently,” she says. “We all have our own stories and having arthritis is part of mine. It’s made me into the person I am today.”

Sidebar: Four Ways to Feel Better Fast

Living with arthritis can be overwhelming. Instead of giving into negative emotions like anger and frustration, try these strategies for an instant pick-me-up.

Turn up the tunes: Listen to your favorite CD on the way to work or sing along to “Elmo and Friends” with your kids. Researchers have found that listening to music helps boost energy and stimulates positive thinking. Music might also be good for pain. Studies show that listening to music for at least an hour a day can reduce chronic pain and depression so go ahead and turn up the volume the next time your favorite song comes on the radio.

Try meditating: Setting aside time to do short meditations throughout the day can help when you’re feeling down, overwhelmed by demands at work or dealing with a needy friend. Meditations help refocus your thoughts and create positive energy. Simply find a quiet spot, sit in a relaxed position with your eyes closed and take deep, slow breaths. Focus only on breathing in and out for three minutes. You’ll be amazed how great you feel afterwards.

Have a good laugh: Giggle, guffaw, chuckle, snicker, chortle – no matter what you call it, laughing is good for your health. It reduces stress, lowers blood pressure, elevates mood and boosts the immune system. The next time you need a burst of energy, try reading the comics, watching a funny movie or viewing stand-up comedy clips online. In just a few minutes, you’ll increase endorphins, your body’s natural painkillers, and reduce stress hormones.

Break a sweat: Regular exercise is good for much more than just losing weight. It can also improve your mood, according to research published in the journal Health Psychology. The next time you’re feeling sad, walk around the block, go for a short bike ride or swim a few laps in the pool to feel better fast.

Sources

Elinor Mody, M.D.
Director of the Women’s Orthopedic and Joint Disease Center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital
617-732-9393

Heidi Solomon
617-277-7674
heidi@posh-boston.com

Kim Fuller
918-289-9450
kfuller920@aol.com