Tips for Fighting the Downward Cycle
- From the onset, when you're diagnosed
with arthritis, understand that the grief cycle is part of the disease. You
can't expect to undergo the kind of physical changes arthritis imposes without
some kind of corresponding emotional ups and downs, but you can try to control
how you react: Yes, it's easier to be negative, and maintaining a positive
attitude requires work, but there's a real reward in accentuating the
positive: You can actually change your physical condition. By staying
positive, you minimize the stress factors that relate to flare-ups and are
thus better able to cope.
If you're stuck in depression, give
yourself time to get out of it; give yourself time to really feel what you're
going through, as fully and as honestly as you can. If you don't, you'll find
yourself mired there — or mired in anger, denial or bargaining. Acceptance is
only possible through understanding. Don't let feelings of sadness overwhelm
you. If you feel that you simply can't cope, get help.
If you look into your future, and you
don't like what you see, don't look that far ahead. Focus on the here and now.
If you're unhappy right at this moment, think of something that makes you
laugh. Sometimes that's what it takes-a few moments of laughter and enjoyment
— to get you through the rest of the day.
Learn to see beyond anger and depression,
to see that they aren't the only forms of energy in your emotional world.
Anger and depression might never completely disappear, but they can be
overcome, and learning to rise above them gives you an entirely new
perspective on arthritis-and life.
Don't fall into the trap of feeling sorry
for yourself. Fight it. Become aware of the emotional cycles your illness
imposes on you, and remind yourself that you're no worse today than you were
yesterday, and yesterday you weren't depressed. Try to stay positive. It's
easy to give in to depression-sometimes too easy to give
in.
Talk to somebody — a friend, family
member, or professional counselor — who can help you sort out your feelings.
Don't let unexpressed emotion eat away at
you.
This page was last reviewed/updated on : 02/23/2008 
