Take a Pill, Gain a PoundThere is a lot of discussion of obesity and rheumatoid arthritis (including many great articles on this site). But I am given to wonder, which came first – the RA...reactions15comments
Relishing the Here and NowThis video looks at pausing and appreciating what we have in the present moment to give us joy and satisfaction. This actually provides stability and skill to handle our RA...reactionscomments
The PTSD of RASo, I’m just making my bed, a small chore I do every single morning without much thought. Neatening my bedroom for the coming day lightens my mood and puts a...reactions17comments
Support in Unlikely PlacesA very interesting thing happened to me a few weeks ago: I attended my 10-year high school reunion. First of all, I am not old enough for this reunion. Second...reactions4comments
Does it Hurt? And Other Questions that are Really Hard to Answer I recently was talking to a good friend of mine who lives with ulcerative colitis, and the conversation turned toward how hard answers can be to seemingly innocuous and easy...reactions5comments
Making Travel ChoicesMy husband and I really enjoy travel. We visit family, friends, and take trips to different places to see the sights, enjoy the food, and discover new experiences. I’ve felt...reactions2comments
Hair (Not the Musical)I was recently at a meeting that included a number of other RA patient advocates. Over lunch, conversation turned (not unexpectedly) to various treatments and side effects. One of the...reactions8comments
Pain and Sleep - a Two-Way StreetBelow is a screenshot from my phone. It shows a recent night of sleep tracking from my Fitbit. The red parts are when I was awake. It’s pretty easy to...reactions11comments
Time for a ChangeWe have all heard about how certain events or changes in our lives can produce stress. Marriage, divorce, the death of a loved one, a new job, moving to a...reactions4comments
Acceptance May Mean Saying "No"It was a dream job. One of those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to do meaningful work you enjoy with people you respect at a generous salary. Those jobs are rare to begin...reactions5comments
Just Add Exercise?I recently found myself suddenly in the middle of a heated debate about opioids and pain treatment via an E-mail thread, surprisingly made up of other patients and patient advocates...reactions10comments
Why Do I Keep Doing That??When was the last time you pushed yourself too far and suffered the consequences of extra pain, stiffness and disability? My arms and legs screamed in pain. I felt the...reactions32comments
Reaching out to OthersIn this video, I discuss the importance of not isolating ourselves as we deal with the impact of RA. Nan...reactions2comments
Three Things I've Learned About Living Well With RAMarc Ian Barasch is someone I discovered about ten years ago when I came across his books, The Healing Path, A Soul Approach to illness, and Remarkable Recovery, which he...reactions2comments
Fighting with the MirrorSometimes I get angry with the mirror. I feel it doesn’t reflect how I am feeling—specifically, how I am feeling on a bad RA day. There’s the saying: “It is...reactions10comments
Caged to the Pain: A Story About My RibsThe ribs are an important part of our bodies. They protect our lungs and hearts and other organs like the spleen. They help us breathe by aiding the lungs and...reactions24comments
Celebrating What Gets DoneI sometimes get really down on myself about what doesn’t get done. At the end of every day, there’s usually a list of things that I’m putting off for another...reactions8comments
The Emotional Toll of Chronic IllnessTrigger WarningThe content includes information related to mental and emotional distress and it might be upsetting to some people. If you or someone you know have thoughts of suicide, have...reactionscomments
The Frustrations of Driving with RABetween driving to doctor’s appointments, picking up prescriptions, and getting to therapy, you have plenty of places to go, in addition to work/school, family responsibilities, and/or social activities, driving is...reactions12comments
Spring AheadSeason changes, especially the transition to spring, something everyone looks forward to. But for those living with RA, it can sometimes pose challenges. I want to offer some suggestions for...reactionscomments