The Emotion Associated With A Diagnosis Of Arthritis

While arthritis is primarily associated with physical symptoms impairing mobility and causing pain, it is important not to overlook the fact that arthritis causes very real emotional symptoms as well. The stress associated with pain and decreased mobility can manifest in emotional behaviors and, in severe cases, may cause depression. Because of these potential side effects, it is important for arthritis sufferers to understand the common manners in which arthritis affects emotion and prepare themselves to deal with those side effects properly.

The immediate emotional reaction to arthritis is fear. People, upon learning that they have the disease, fill their heads with what if questions and postulate the worst outcome imaginable. There is no cure for arthritis, but there are several effective treatments. Before projecting the worst case scenario, ask your doctor what the best case scenario is and then work to achieve it.

Many people become emotionally affected when they are diagnosed simply because they have a fear of the long-term effects of arthritis even though they may not know exactly what those effects are. In short, they have a fear of the unknown. This can be handled by educating yourself by reading articles on line and having discussions with your doctor or other people with arthritis. By becoming familiar with what to expect, you can eliminate the fear of the unknown and be prepared to handle the obstacles that come your way.

Many people diagnosed with arthritis have trouble accepting their ailment. They may try to convince themselves that they do not actually have the disease, or they may try to act as though there are absolutely no physical limitations associated with the disease. This is a recipe for emotional stress. By pretending that there are no limitations associated with arthritis, you set yourself up for frustration when you are unable to perform a task in the same manner as you had done before. By knowing and accepting your limitations, you can plan for those limitations and avoid frustration in your every day life.

Dealing with a chronic disease is very much like the grief cycle, and it is common for people to react with anger to the diagnosis. This phase will pass if you are active in seeking out treatment and modifying your exercise behavior and eating habits to best facilitate positive change in your arthritis. If you are resentful and refuse to go out of your way to improve your situation, it is likely that your situation will deteriorate causing a downward spiral of anger and more severe arthritis. Being positive begets positive results.

It is very possible that you will encounter at least a few of the emotions discussed in the body of this article. Knowing that you are not alone in these feelings and preparing yourself for dealing with these emotions is paramount to maintaining a healthy emotional outlook on your diagnosis. By maintaining a positive outlook, you increase your chances of maintaining a healthy body and mitigating the effects of arthritis in your everyday life.