Coping With Your Emotions and Rheumatoid Arthritis

In developing protocols for using hypnosis to recover from rheumatoid arthritis, I did a lot of research on the subject.

Here are some ideas to consider:

When you’ve been diagnosed with arthritis and whether you were expecting it or not, its devastating. Discovering you have a chronic illness of any sort could send your emotions into a spiral of anger and depression.

A classic symptom that accompanies arthritis, according to many experts, is depression, which may manifest itself with feelings of helplessness and feeling alone, feelings of a lack of meaning in life, mood swings, problems sleeping and lack of appetite.

The depression that many of those newly diagnosed with arthritis feel may be associated with a loss of the future that they had been planning and the realization that long term life plans may have changed.

A common fear for those diagnosed with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis to fear the future, for example, having to face up to life in a wheelchair and imagining how that may impact upon family life or career

In some cases, people who have been recently diagnosed may have a fear of the medications they have to take and what impact they will have on their lives

Every chronic illness involves loss: in the case of arthritis, the loss of activities we once enjoyed, or our self-image. Our identity is often tied to the things we do and can do. This image of ourselves now has to change and, often, we don’t know to what, or how to go about it.

Talking to someone who has been through similar fears and has similar experience with arthritis can help. Local arthritis support groups may be able to help.

Dealing with my own rheumatoid arthritis, hypnosis and diet have proven to be effective. By avoiding dairy fat and protein and minimizing foods like corn, I have minimized arthritis inflammation and pain and I get to ride my bike!

Using self hypnosis I focus my thoughts on my body, healing and directing my immune system for wellness. Hypnotherapy allows me to reduce the stress that I experience and manage my emotions, both of which directly impact rheumatoid arthritis.

You can also check out the new program I developed with the Downloads for Change Team, Move Free - Hypnosis for Rheumatoid Arthritis.  This program has 11 tracks dedicated to alleviating the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, dealing with the stress and emotions associated with a diagnosis, reducing the pain and inflammation and teaching self hypnosis.  There are also some great Lifestyle Action Steps you can take to Move Free in your life.