Positive Psychology for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Practicing Positive Psychology (PP) can be useful if you have rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It focuses on how to live to the fullest by embracing your personal strengths and focusing on concepts like gratitude, optimism, and determination.

Researchers have linked practicing these and other PP topics to improved mental well-being in people with RA and other chronic conditions. It can even relieve symptoms like pain and fatigue, or help you cope better with them.

You can get in touch with a psychologist who can help introduce PP into your life or you can use other resources to guide your journey.

PP is a relatively new type of mental health theory that was developed in the 2000s. It measures mental wellbeing through concepts such as optimism, hope, and determination. It combines the positive aspects of a person’s life with their ability to thrive.

PP connects with well-being:

• use personal strengths
• Express gratitude
• find meaning in your life
• Set goals and achieve them
• maintain close social relationships
• Have compassion
• Developing resilience (rapid recovery from difficult situations)
• Engage in meaningful activities
• live the moment
• Practicing altruism (selfless concern for others)

These practices can be performed in conjunction with other mental health interventions led by a psychotherapist, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

Or you might want to practice them yourself. For example, you could keep a gratitude journal where you write down one thing each day that you are grateful for.

Positive psychotherapy is a method that a therapist can use with you to practice PP. Some of the techniques in this method include:

• List of your personal strengths
• Focus on a few positive things every day
• thank others

Another PP practice is turning negative thoughts into positive ones or finding a balance between negative and positive. If you have RA you can do this by:

• speak positively to yourself
• Reshaping your mindset to focus on what you can do and what you can’t do
• Celebrate completed tasks or challenges you mastered

People with RA can benefit from PP for many reasons. PP can counteract RA symptoms such as depression, anxiety, pain, and fatigue. It can also help you stick to your RA management plan so you can feel healthier overall.

Several studies show the benefits of PP in people with chronic pain, and RA in particular.

Mental health, RA and PP

According to a 2017 study, RA increases the risk of developing depression and anxiety.

Depression affects your outlook on life. Among other symptoms, you can:

• be sad or hopeless
• Lose interest in parts of your life
• gain or lose weight
• sleep more or less than recommended
• experience a lack of energy

Fear can express itself as stress. You may feel tense, worried, or irritable.

These mental illnesses can get worse or cause other RA symptoms.

The same 2017 study found that stress and mood are independent factors in relapse of RA symptoms. It can lead to more inflammation, pain, stiffness, and fatigue.

A 2018 review and study suggests that PP may help improve symptoms of depression and anxiety, especially when combined with other psychotherapy techniques like CBT.

Chronic health conditions and PP

According to a 2018 study, PP interventions can increase the wellbeing of people with diagnosed health conditions and reduce suffering.

And a 2016 study concluded that people with chronic health problems who are more optimistic and hopeful have behaviors that are better for their health.

These mentalities can be promoted with PP.

In turn, health-promoting behaviors can help manage a chronic condition like RA. The management of RA includes:

• Adhere to medication plans
• go to the doctor regularly
• get involved in healthy lifestyle habits

Chronic pain and PP

A 2020 study examined the relationships between chronic pain, self-efficacy, and interventions to increase well-being. It concluded that PP and CBT can help people manage chronic pain better.

PP, when combined with therapies like CBT and medication, can help someone with chronic pain thrive, concludes a comment from psychiatrists.

PP interventions can promote:

• Strengthen
• social life
• general meaningfulness

Fatigue and PP

Social support and PP practices that target hope, optimism, and resilience could help reduce fatigue in people with RA, a 2017 study concluded. These properties seem to help combat symptoms such as fatigue.

Measurement of well-being in RA patients

A 2015 study found that a measurement called the subjective vitality scale was effective in estimating the wellbeing of people with RA. Doctors and other healthcare professionals can use this scale to assess how emotionally a person with RA is doing.

Using a scale like this one could encourage doctors to highlight PP practices with their patients to improve their wellbeing.

People who have symptoms of anxiety or depression should seek help from a psychologist who can assess the symptoms and diagnose and treat these conditions.

PP may sound like welcome practice when you have RA, but you may need professional help to guide you into this mindset. Talk to your doctor about your interest in PP. You may be able to recommend psychologists who focus on this theory.

Or you can find resources on PP that suggest ways to implement it in your life. Here are a few resources to get you started:

Make sure to keep an eye on your RA symptoms as closely as possible to avoid unnecessary pain and discomfort. This can help keep your mental health on track.

You can do this by:

• regular meetings with your doctor
• Taking prescribed medication
• train as you can
• Eat a balanced, nutritious diet
• get enough sleep

Keeping up with all aspects of your RA management plan will make it easier for you to adopt new coping strategies, such as those based on PP, and to improve your wellbeing.

PP focuses on concepts like gratitude, optimism, and determination.

Having RA can improve your mental well-being and help you live to the fullest. It can even help you better manage symptoms like pain and fatigue.

To learn PP tactics, you can either work with a psychologist or read the techniques from reliable sources in books and online.

source https://dailyhealthynews.ca/positive-psychology-for-rheumatoid-arthritis/