Living with psoriatic arthritis has its challenges beyond pain, stiffness, and fatigue.
There can be an emotional side to the disease, too. It's not unusual to get frustrated by your symptoms and find it harder to do simple tasks. You may worry about the cost of your treatment or how it affects other people. And depending on where your skin plaques are, you might be embarrassed by your psoriasis.
You can deal with these emotions in a positive way. While you may not be able to cure your condition, you do have a say in how you handle it.
Tame Stress and Anxiety
Any long-term illness comes with stress that can translate to:
- Low energy
- Poor sleep
- Being more irritable
- Changes in appetite
- Avoiding your social life
With psoriatic arthritis, the stress can both worsen and trigger symptoms: A flare-up can raise your stress, which makes your pain and skin worse, which adds more stress.
Anxiety can lead to poor sleep, which leaves you feeling more tired and achy the next day, so you won't sleep as well. Worrying about psoriasis may even keep your treatment from working its best for you.
Do something nice for yourself every day to ease the effects of stress. It doesn't have to be a big deal. Make yourself a cup of herbal tea in the afternoon. Even a few quiet minutes of "me time" when you wake up or before you go to bed can help. It's not selfish. It's as important as taking your medication.
Stay Connected
You might be tempted to pull away and not make the effort to be social. But that isn't good for you.
With people you’re close to, you can share your innermost feelings and they accept you -- just as you are. Their comfort and support can often offset the unpleasantness.
With their help, you may also find it easier to keep up with your treatment.
The findings are the same in study after study: People with many social contacts -- a partner, a close-knit family, a network of friends, and religious or other group connections -- live longer and have better health. So open up and reach out.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
SPEAKER 1: In the US, up to 30%
of people with psoriasis
also develop
psoriatic arthritis.
Psoriatic arthritis
is an inflammatory type
of arthritis that can cause
pain, stiffness, and swelling
in one or more joints.
If not treated, it can cause
permanent damage.
The earlier psoriatic arthritis
is treated, the better chances
you have of slowing or stopping
joint damage.
There have been lots
of treatment breakthroughs
in the last 10 years.
And for most patients, remission
is possible.
SPEAKER 2: So remission
is the goal.
And that defines a state
of low disease activity where
there's not
a lot of inflammation.
There's not a lot of pain.
And the joints-- we have studies
that show that people
on these drugs,
they don't progress as rapidly,
and sometimes they stop
progressing in joint damage
altogether.
SPEAKER 1: There are
several types of medicines
to treat psoriatic arthritis.
But it can take time to find
the treatment that will work
best for you.
So work closely with your doctor
to monitor your progress.
SPEAKER 2:
The goal of our treatment
is to help the skin,
to decrease the pain,
and to prevent
joint destruction.
The skin is very important.
It's important not just
for its appearance, but the skin
is the barrier to bad things
in the environment.
You don't want to have open skin
lesions that are
prone to infection.
In terms of the joints, the goal
is to prevent joint damage.
SPEAKER 1: Everyone's body is
different, so no treatment plan
will be the same.
Educating yourself will help.
SPEAKER 2: Many studies
in many different arenas
have shown that the patient who
is more
knowledgeable
about their condition
does better.
So ask your doctor.
Ask them for the rationale--
why are you using this medicine
instead of this other one?
Why is the thing that I saw
on television not appropriate
for me?
And be part of it.
SPEAKER 1: So talk
to your doctor about the best
treatment plan for you.
Treat Depression
You're more likely to become depressed when you have an ongoing condition.
People with depression may feel:
- Sadness
- Guilt or worthlessness
- Irritability and anger
- No interest or pleasure in things they used to enjoy
Other common signs include:
- Trouble sleeping
- Fatigue
- A tough time getting out of bed
- Trouble concentrating, making decisions, or remembering
- Mood swings
- Staying at home and avoiding friends
- Weight loss or gain
- Headaches or stomachaches without a known cause
Continued
Depression can be treated. Medication can help reset the chemicals in your brain, and therapy can help you work through your troubles. Even things like exercise can help.
Let your doctor know if you feel down for more than a couple of weeks. They can help you come up with a plan to feel better.
Take Action
One of the best things you can do when your feelings start to get to you is to talk with your doctor or a mental health professional. Counseling can help you change negative thinking patterns, plan strategies, and build skills to become stronger emotionally.
Also, stay active. It’s good for your mood as well as your joints. If simple activities like walking are hard, get in the pool. The water supports your weight, so you can move more easily and without impact on your joints.
Consider yoga, tai chi, or qi gong, too. These gentle, meditative practices help you find a sense of centered calm and keep you flexible.
You may also want to try mind/body treatments such as progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, and biofeedback. They can teach you to control your body's reaction to stress -- including your heart rate, blood pressure, and muscle tension -- and manage pain.
If your psoriatic arthritis is
making you feel exhausted,
here are a few tips on managing
your fatigue.
Ongoing pain can make you feel
fatigued.
Adding exercise to your routine
can help ease your discomfort
by loosening up your joints.
But it also boosts your energy.
Walking, swimming,
and warm-water exercises may be
easy on your joints.
You may want to try the flowing,
circular movement of tai chi.
Strength training can ease pain,
too, especially if you have
arthritis.
That's because the stronger
your muscles are,
the less your joints have
to work.
Talk to your doctor about what
exercises may be good for you.
Next, keep your stress in check.
Too much tension can zap
your energy.
Practicing mindfulness
and having good sleep habits
can help.
A healthy diet can ease
your inflammation, which can
boost your energy level.
Cut back on foods like sugar
and the trans fats
found in fried foods.
Stay away from refined carbs
like crackers and white bread.
Try a Mediterranean diet that
includes fish such as salmon,
sardines, and tuna.
Snack on nuts and seeds
like walnuts, pistachios,
and almonds.
And bulk up
on vitamin K-rich veggies
like broccoli, spinach,
and kale.
When you have
a long-term condition,
you may sometimes feel
depressed or anxious.
These feelings can actually make
you feel tired.
Talk to a loved one
or your doctor
about your feelings,
and you may find it
helpful to talk to a therapist.
Some studies show talk therapy
can even help you get a better
night's sleep.