Managing Mental Health, Stress and Rheumatic Disease
December 9, 2024 | Rheumatic Disease
How does stress play a role in rheumatic disease flares?
Rheumatic diseases are autoimmune inflammatory conditions that have a lasting effect on patients’ everyday lives. Though chronic organ damage and medication side effects are the primary focus of medical care, patients living with rheumatic disease may experience mental health issues.
Emotional stress, such as anxiety or depression, causes a chemical reaction in the body that may trigger the immune system, causing an exacerbation of the underlying rheumatological disease.
Social Stress
Symptoms of rheumatic disease, such as chronic pain and fatigue, may impact a patient’s capacity to participate in social activities. Since rheumatic conditions are uncommon, it can be challenging for loved ones to fully grasp the complexities of this disease. For those managing autoimmune disease, it’s important to be cautious when engaging in social activities, especially if they are taking medications that are known to raise the risk of infection. Together, these factors can amplify a person's sense of loneliness and seclusion.
Work Stress
For rheumatic disease patients, regular clinic visits are necessary to check on disease progression and side effects from treatment. As a result of chronic fatigue and/or damage caused by rheumatic illness, patients may experience performance decline at work or financial hardship over time. Further, patients’ broader psychological and societal well-being may be negatively impacted by worries about their jobs.
If you’re experiencing these stressors, there are a few tips to improve mental and social health:
- Speak with Your Rheumatologist
Your doctor will benefit greatly from knowing how you're feeling at each appointment. Poor treatment adherence is a major contributor to anxiety and depression among patients, particularly if these conditions have never been addressed. Your rheumatologist can also make a referral if you'd like to speak with a mental health professional about these concerns. - Meditation
Regular meditative practices or mindfulness exercises may help keep the body in a calm and relaxed state, reduce feelings of anxiety or depression, and improve focus. Whether you prefer to learn in a social setting or independently, you can find many resources to help you hone your meditation skills online, on apps, or through books. - Exercise
Yoga movements – including postures and breathing techniques – may help reduce feelings of sadness. Additionally, patients with joint injury are often advised to participate in water aerobics because the buoyancy of the water alleviates pressure on afflicted joints. Exercise can boost happiness and strengthen the muscles near your injured joints, both of which will improve patients’ ability to participate in everyday activities. - Support Groups
If you’re experiencing stress or poor mental health associated with your rheumatic disease, you don’t have to deal with your feelings alone. Support groups bring people together who are going through similar experiences and provide an opportunity to share feelings or coping strategies. If you’re interested, you can find resources online or speak with your rheumatologist.
About the Author
David L. Waldburg V, MD
David L. Waldburg V, MD, is a native of Savannah, Georgia. He graduated from St. George's University School of Medicine in 2018. He went on to complete his internal medicine residency at Florida Atlantic University, where he served as one of three chief medical residents during his third postgraduate year. Dr. Waldburg served as a member of the American College of Rheumatology’s Communications and Marketing Committee. He is a PGY5 rheumatology fellow at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia.