Managing Emotional Challenges and Stress

Living with the challenges of a chronic disease like RA can be stressful and emotionally challenging. It is no wonder that studies have found that patients with RA, particularly those with active disease, are at high risk for depression and anxiety.^1-3

Because people with RA face increased risk for emotional problems and stress, it is important to have tools that you can use to deal with these problems and the self-awareness to know when you need help.

Common mental health concerns with RA

People with RA tend to experience more stress, anxiety, and depression than other people and the first step in finding relief from these problems is recognizing them.

Anxiety

Anxiety typically happens in response to circumstances in life, such as living in a war zone or living with the uncertainty and stress of having a chronic disease like RA. Different stressors, like financial uncertainty and worry about the future, can trigger or worsen anxiety. There are a number of effective treatment options for dealing with anxiety. The first step is to bring your anxiety to the attention of your doctor. Your doctor can refer you to a professional trained to help.

Since anxiety typically occurs as a response to certain circumstances in life, which, for a person with RA may include the uncertainty of having a chronic illness, treatment approaches that address those life circumstances may be particularly useful. These typically include psychotherapy, counseling, or stress reduction training. These interventions can help a person understand the source of anxiety and develop ways to handle anxious feelings.

In addition to non-drug interventions, there are some medications that are effective in treating anxiety. These include some types of benzodiazepines, such as Valium (diazepam) and Xanax (alprazolam) and certain antidepressant medications, such as Zoloft (sertraline), Paxil (paroxetine), Wellbutrin (buproprion) and Effexor (venlafaxine).

Tips for better managing stress

Stress affects most people, whether it has to do with work or difficult life situations. However, a person with a chronic disease like RA tends to live with more stress than others. This stress manifests itself physiologically, cognitively, and emotionally. People with RA experience the physiologic stress of pain, stiffness, and inflammation, the cognitive stress of uncertainty about the future, and the emotional stress of anxiety about the course of the disease and how it will affect the body over time.

RA challenges a person to live with quite a bit of uncertainty. Stress may have an effect on the immune system and may have a role in triggering an RA flare or worsening of RA symptoms.⁴

There are many effective interventions that you can use to reduce stress in your life, including a regular exercise program, yoga, meditation and other relaxation techniques, and counseling. One effective way to acquire skills to help you reduce stress is to work directly with a professional trained in strategies for stress reduction.

Depression is common in people with RA

Depression is common in people with RA, especially those with active disease who experience RA-related disability. Since depression is a dangerous condition that can increase your risk for doing harm to yourself, it is important to be aware of the signs of depression so that it can be diagnosed and treated as quickly as possible. Diagnosing depression can be difficult and should be left to a professional.

If you notice the symptoms of depression in yourself or a friend or family member, alert your doctor and ask for an evaluation. There is agreement among mental health experts that the best treatment for major depression is a combination of antidepressant medication and psychotherapy or counseling. While each type of treatment can provide some relief for depression, the combination works together and can be highly effective.

Depression treatment options

Only a qualified physician (typically a psychiatrist) can determine which antidepressant medication will be best for you. However, a variety of types of antidepressants have been used successfully to treat major depression. These include a group of antidepressants called tricyclics, such as Elavil (amitriptyline), Pamelor (nortriptyline), and Tofranil (imipramine), and another group of antidepressants called serotonergic antidepressants, including Zoloft (sertraline), Paxil (paroxetine), Effexor (venlafaxine), and Prozac (fluoxetine). Other types of antidepressants may also be useful, including Wellbutrin (bupropion HCl), Serzone (nefazodone), and Desyrel (trazodone). Because different antidepressants cause slightly different kinds of side effects and no individual person will react the same to every medication, you will need to work with a psychiatrist to find the right antidepressant for you, based on how well it works and how well you tolerate it. It may take up to 6 weeks to find out how well a particular medication will work for you. So, work closely with your psychiatrist and be prepared to give the process time.

Consider an RA support group

When it comes to coping with the emotional and practical challenges posed by RA, there is wisdom in the old adage “there’s strength in numbers.” When you join an RA support group, you tap into the experience, knowledge, and connections of many people who are struggling with difficulties similar to your own. A support group can be particularly useful as a place to talk about the emotional challenges and stress associated with living with RA.

What are the benefits of a support group?

A support group may be led by an experienced health professional, such as a social worker, psychologist, nurse, or doctor, or it may be member-led (such groups are sometimes called peer or self-help groups). Even if you see yourself as an independent, rugged individual, there are a number of practical benefits that you can get from being a member of a support group. Your fellow support group members may have the latest info on treatments and other developments in RA research and you can get a lot of useful information by comparing notes with other RA patients on symptom management strategies and alternative treatments.

To find an RA support group in your local area, talk to your doctor or call the Arthritis Foundation at 1-800-283-7800.