Living

I’ve had depression since I was 14. It’s something that has colored every aspect of my life and how I perceive the world around me. So has RA, even though...

I can’t claim I’ve always embraced self-love, especially where my body is concerned. I was in first grade when my body first indicated this was going to be a complicated...

A friend of mine posted an article on her Facebook page recently that I thought was interesting: "Chronic Inflammation Removes Motivation by Reducing Dopamine in the Brain." A study done by...

I’m a pretty outspoken person, but there is a list of things I never expected I’d say. “I hope it’s a flare,” is certainly close to the top of the...

Rheumatoid arthritis. It’s a daily struggle, a slow burn, a never-ending battle. Usually. Once you live with the illness long enough, though, you’ll get an “uh-oh” moment. They don’t come...

I took many things for granted before my rheumatoid arthritis and one of them is shaving. Before my diagnosis, it was one of those mundane routines I moaned and groaned...

The 10-point pain scale commonly used in medicine can be frustrating for those of us living with painful, chronic conditions. For starters, it is completely subjective. To a person who...

“You would feel so much better if you just: exercised, lost weight, put on makeup every day, showered every day, did yoga, went out more, quit thinking and talking about...

If I were to describe my life with JRA, I would say: it’s never a dull moment. I’ve also described it as a rollercoaster ride or trying to swim to...

I’ve always heard that stress is bad for rheumatoid arthritis, but I’ve never been sure what that meant for me and my condition. Developing juvenile rheumatoid arthritis at age two...

“Normal” parenting life - you know, being a parent withoutrheumatoid arthritis - is tough enough regardless of how old your children are. The energy relegated to just worrying about them...

I have recently come to the stark realization that having a chronic disease for nearly 20 years has caused me to adopt a level of “health worrying” that I need...

I started taking Humira in May 2019. I also graduated from Florida State University in May 2019. Since both of these events, I haven’t had that much joint pain. While...

Anyone who suffers from RA is familiar with the way the disease is treated. We go through a trial and error period, sometimes taking years, until we find a medication...

Like being a parent to young children, the challenges of RA simply change with time, they do not disappear. And like being a parent, you may need to lose your...

I’d love to win the lottery, or have a rich uncle I never knew about give me a million dollars, or a benefactor take an interest in me and offer...

Spring is here, Summer is just around the corner, and in many ways this means FREEDOM! Freedom from heavy coats and jackets, freedom from having to scrape snow and ice...

Editor's note: In this series, we discuss causes of anxiety for those facing physical health conditions like rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Phrases in quotes are the words of our community members...

I was recently diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnea after having a sleep study test. This condition means that my airway closes while I am sleeping, which causes me to...

Not long ago I was having a conversation with a friend who is the mother of two teenagers, and as she shared her challenges in parenting them, she mentioned all...